Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Acknowledging both that "I've been with you since you were born" and "You don't give me much thought," narrator the Air gently but firmly reminds readers that while it may be invisible, it's keeping them--and everything else on the planet--going. "I am the perfect combination of nitrogen and oxygen for life on Earth," writes Karas (The Power of Yeti), explaining all the heavy lifting that air does--carrying matter, moisture, and sounds; orchestrating "rivers of atmosphere" that become climate and weather patterns; and more. Gouache and pencil illustrations in the creator's signature style move from intimate human moments--individuals delight in an air-filled soap bubble and savor a breeze that drifts through a window--to more expansive depictions of air at work in jet streams and wind turbines. But a view of Earth from outer space attends a powerful view of the subject's cosmic rarity: "You can see just how little of me there is." Wearing its messages lightly, the work delivers a profound truth with a final scene that shows a panoply of life: "Everyone is sharing me with everyone else." Characters are portrayed with various skin tones. An author's note concludes. Ages 3--7. (Oct.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
With the opening sentence, "I am the Air," Karas (On Earth, rev. 9/05) establishes personified air as the narrator, reassuring readers that even though, scientifically speaking, they cannot see or smell or hear it ("what you hear is not me, but the sound waves that travel through me"), air is always with them as they constantly breathe in and breathe out. Air continues by noting that readers can feel when it moves and also what's in the air (moisture, for instance). Diagrams of the Eastern and Western hemispheres clearly show the movement of the jet streams as well as the general location of typhoons and hurricanes and wind systems such as the Southeast Trades and Westerlies. Although millions of years ago there was no air on Earth, it now brags that it is the "perfect combination of hydrogen and nitrogen" to sustain life on our planet and as such must be protected. Karas presents his information in small, illustrated segments in his signature watercolors, the art generously populated by children. Diagrams, such as one depicting air cocooning the Earth, provide concrete visuals for young naturalists. A concluding author's note summarizes the movement and effects of air, the effect of altitude on air, and a simplified process of photosynthesis. Betty CarterNovember/December 2025 p.86 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A very simple introduction to what air is and does. Addressing both readers and the book's cast of racially and culturally diverse youngsters, the gaseous narrator begins by distinguishing itself from the things it carries: "You can't smell me. (That's not me you smell!)" Likewise, though we can't hear air, we can feel the moisture it contains. Its particles can "change the color of the sky--and sometimes make your nose itch." Air helps to shield the planet from harmful rays and other hazards, rivers of it circle the Earth, and its energy can be harnessed. Air has changed over time and is still changing. Most importantly, because air connects every living thing ("Everyone is sharing me with everyone else"), it's vital to care for it. The chain of logic is unassailable. Karas deftly adds informational content visually with (among other things) a world map of labeled jet streams and prevailing winds, as well as a gallery of airborne particulates such as soot, seeds, and spores. He goes on to fill in more detail about air's dynamic relationship with our planet and biosphere in a short afterword. Light, refreshing, and clear.(Informational picture book. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
