[review + recipe + giveaway] Awesome Earth by Joan Bransfield Graham and Tania García

~ jama

I’ve always been fascinated by volcanoes. When you grow up in Hawaiʻi, it’s a point of pride being able to claim that your home state has the largest active volcano on Earth (Mauna Loa), and it’s also the only state situated entirely on an archipelago. Kīlauea’s most recent (and ongoing) eruption on the Big Island started in December 2024, while Mauna Loa last spouted off in 2022.

The breathtaking spectacle of molten lava slowly making its way to the ocean and thereafter creating new land is both humbling and awe-inspiring. When I read Joan Bransfield Graham and Tania García’s brand new poetry picture book, Awesome Earth: Concrete Poems Celebrate Caves, Canyons and Other Fascinating Landforms (Clarion Books, 2025), I was reminded of how our home planet is an ever evolving, dynamic entity full of beauty and wonder.

FANTASTIC FORCES

The earth is
unsettled, it would seem,
for here and about it lets off
steam. Lava flows, geysers gush,
canyons are carved by a river's push.
The Earth's old crust cracks and creaks,
shakes and shoves up mountain peaks.
Ice caps recede, glaciers advance,
ever in motion -- a global dance.
Will it ever stand still?
Not a chance!

Fun to read and loaded with fascinating information, Awesome Earth is Graham’s valentine to the planet and a budding geologist’s dream. Her use of concrete poetry to describe a variety of landforms is the perfect way to celebrate their physical attributes, whether Continent or Island, Hill or Valley, Plain or Plateau. After all, landforms are all about size, shape, and structure; they themselves are a kind of topographical poetry.

Kids will find the 20+ poems delightfully accessible as Graham strikes a friendly tone via (mostly) first person point of view and personification to establish a sense of immediacy and direct engagement. Who could resist an amiable Island explaining the difference between his continental and oceanic ilk, or smaller “mini-me” versions of himself? He even invites readers to visit sometime — so charming!

We also get a sense of Mountain’s pride and majesty, as he seeks the sky, “enrobed with snow,” piercing the clouds, and I’m only too willing to forgive Peninsula’s boast: “I’ve got miles and miles of rocky or sandy, dandy coast!”

While enjoying the poet’s inventive turns of phrase, judicious use of rhyme, and easy musicality, readers will effortlessly absorb good-to-know facts about continental drift, erosion, how the three kinds of rocks are formed, the difference between stalactites and stalagmites, and the different types of plains. What natural forces — wind, water, time — shaped and sculpted the “artistry of the Earth”?

Speaking of artistry, García’s striking jewel-toned illustrations (a combination of digital techniques and handmade ink textures created from sponges, scourers, old brushes, wrinkled plastics, and old eyelash mascaras) brilliantly showcase Graham’s shape poems. Text + picture underscore the beauty and uniqueness of each landform. How fun to read words climbing up one side of an Arch and down the other, or framing a gorgeous vista. I do love seeing words perched atop the Desert’s oasis tree, and the Continents poem in the shape of South America and Africa is just too cool.

Awesome Earth is its own brand of marvelous. Kids will love seeing how the graphic patterns of words and letters can convey meaning and intent. Those who’ve never encountered concrete poetry before will enjoy the novelty, while avid fans of the form may be inspired to try writing their own. In either case, this appealing introduction to geological elements will enhance their appreciation of the world around them, arousing curiosity and hopefully sharpening observational skills.

Back matter includes detailed notes about each feature, a glossary, and additional resources to explore. Did you know camels have bushy eyebrows, a double set of eyelashes, a clear inner “eyelid” and nostrils that close to protect them in desert sandstorms? And where can we find the greatest concentration of hoodoos on Earth? (I confess I didn’t know what hoodoos were until I read this book!).

Beautiful, incredible, amazing Earth — our precious (and most vulnerable) treasure. Let’s take good care to preserve and protect it!

ARTIST

The earth is
an artist, at work every
day, with powerful tools that
come into play: pressure, time, wind,
water, ice, too -- all forming wondrous
features to view. It sculpts, chisels, carves,
etches, creating awe-inspiring sketches.
Explore the world, enjoy its glory, listen
to it whisper its unfolding story. Walk
gently, with care, when you roam.
Earth is a treasure, the Earth
is our home.

*

🌎 JOAN’S AWESOME EARTH CHICKEN SALAD 🌴

                                    VALLEYS

Hills                                                                                with
and mountains                                          a regal, living
are the UP, while                                  emerald crown.



                     VALLEYS are the DOWN
                          below, on the ground,
                            rimmed all around

Our Earth enjoys many fertile “Valleys,” which we need to feed our hungry planet.  My “Awesome Earth Chicken Salad” has a bed of lettuce (chopped romaine), topped with lots of fruit & veggies –fresh pineapple, strawberries, blueberries, oranges, chopped onion, tomatoes, cucumber, and avocado & grapes if I have them.

Sprinkle some feta cheese on the top, add a pinwheel of chicken slices, and use your favorite dressing (I like Litehouse Sesame Ginger) — an easy dinner! I use one chicken breast from a Costco chicken for two or three people; I slice the chicken and warm in the microwave for one minute. The other chicken breast will be another meal. Then I cut up what is left (usually about two cups) and freeze it to use later for fajitas or a Thai sauté.

I actually live in the eastern part of the Conejo Valley, tucked between the Simi Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains in California. With THANKS to all the farmers, growers, gatherers, everyone who brings food to our tables–we appreciate you!❤️

*

🌋 SEISMIC CHOCOLATE 👀

Speaking of volcanoes, here’s something sweet to top off Joan’s yummy chicken salad: Chocolate Lava Cake!

That’s right, just take your fork and dig right into the center of the cake to let that chocolate magma flow. Mmmmmmm! Devil-y delicious dark ganache is just the thing to top off our celebration of Awesome Earth.

What’s that? I hear some rumbling . . . could that be another volcanic eruption? Oh, it’s just your tummy growling for more. 😀

Alrighty then, here you go. After all, one can never have too many good books or lava cakes. 😀

🎉 CONGRATULATIONS 🎉

🐚 JOAN AND TANIA! 🌵

🎈YOU GUYS ROCK!! 🎈

*

AWESOME EARTH: Concrete Poems Celebrate Caves, Canyons, and Other Fascinating Landforms
written by Joan Bransfield Graham
illustrated by Tania García
published by Clarion Books, February 18, 2025
Poetry Picture Book for ages 4-8, 40 pp.
*Includes Notes, Glossary and Additional Resources

Amazon

⛰ SPECIAL BOOK GIVEAWAY ⛏

The publisher has generously donated a brand new copy of the book for one lucky Alphabet Soup reader. For a chance to win, please leave a comment at this post no later than midnight (EST) Wednesday, March 5, 2025. You may also enter by sending an email with AWESOME in the subject line to: readermail (at) jamakimrattigan (dot) com. Giveaway open to U.S. residents only, please. Good Luck!

*

🐪 AWESOME EARTH BLOG/MEDIA TOUR 💦

Monday, February 17: Joan’s Guest Post at Poetry for Children.

Tuesday, February 18: Featured by poet, author and educator Georgia Heard on Instagram and Facebook.

Wednesday, February 19: Simply 7 Interview with Jena Benton (+ a giveaway).

Thursday, February 20: Interview with Tricia at The Miss Rumphius Effect (+ a giveaway).

Friday, February 21: Review, Recipe & Giveaway at Jama’s Alphabet Soup.

*

Joan’s concrete poetry books (Splish Splash and Flicker Flash celebrated their 30th and 25th birthdays this year!).

*

Lovely and talented Laura Purdie Salas is hosting the Roundup this week. Zip on over to check out the full menu of poetic goodness being served up around the blogosphere and enjoy your weekend!

*Interior spreads text copyright © 2025 Joan Bransfield Graham, illustrations © 2025 Tanía Garcia, published by Clarion Books. All rights reserved.

**Copyright © 2025 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

40 thoughts on “[review + recipe + giveaway] Awesome Earth by Joan Bransfield Graham and Tania García”

  1. ooooh! I saw this book on a social just yesterday and thought, “hmmmmm. That looks good.” I love the concrete poetry tucked into this book. Thank you for letting us get a peek inside…or maybe a “peak” inside? lol. A healthy chicken salad and lava cake? Yes, please. I would love to win this book for my students.

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. Concrete poetry is so cool! I loved teaching it to my teens at the library. Of course living in Hawaii makes one love volcanoes 🌋. I actually saw Mt Vesuvius when I was 8. Pompeii was the most interesting part of Southern Italy for me! Have a great weekend!

    Liked by 1 person

  8. This, like Joan’s other books, looks and sounds fabulous, Jama! I know that arch, “Delicate Arch” in Moab, Utah! That, and so many other places Joan shows us, are something I wish every person could experience! Thanks for the delicious review, ha! Love the recipes, too!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Impressed that you’re familiar with Delicate Arch, Linda. I like how Tania’s illustrations reference actual locations for some of these landforms. I didn’t know about the hoodoos in Bryce Canyon — fun to learn new things!

      Like

  9. Oh, wow – I was just looking at the cover of this and thinking it was so clever, and then I realized this was another book of concrete poems – with art. So gorgeous! I am always a bit envious of the picture book crew because they get all the fun stuff. However, you and that cake are making your own fun. YUM.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m always impressed by people who can write good concrete poems – beyond the novelty of shape, have meaningful text too. Joan is so good at it. I need more lava cake in my life . . .

      Like

  10. Love concrete poems! So happy to see this new title. When I taught my fifth graders loved making them using Joan’s books as inspiration.

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      1. Hi Jama, Geology isn’t my strong point either, but for my day job as a technical writer/editor, I work with a lot of geologists and other scientists, so I’m always eager to learn more.

        Like

  12. I can hardly think of a more useful book for classroom teachers, and I would love to add it to my collection for use in workshops! Congratulations to Joan! (Her beautifully shaped “Chasm” poem brings to mind my “Elves Chasm,” a playful/serious one recently published in the journal ENTRE. Enjoy this book birthday! https://www.entremagazine.com/magazine

     Elves Chasm, Grand Canyon

    Knives of water   

    cut me through, 

    the blades           

    themselves          

    not sharp at all,  

    but patient and rhythmic  

    like a steady drum                

    of hands on my                   

    stony skin.                   

    Tomorrow is as yesterday;         

    abrasion is as melting.   

    Each drop is trapped

    until, in the day’s heat,            

    its path is released to air.                 

    As much as my walls          

    recede they also                     

    reveal the long building              

    of my layers. Tour time      

    with your eyes, be taken     

    by the way I am not heir to

    any music but the earth’s.

    Imagine all the sand

    that has and would escape

    this endless flow. 

    I’ve met the elves, harp and drum and kin to me.

    Trapped in this chasm, they long to take their music

    and escape this endless flow.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks for sharing your cool poem, Heidi! Now you need to publish your own collection of concrete poems. Only recently learned that the Grand Canyon is larger than the state of Rhode Island. Can’t imagine it!

      Like

  16. Jama, this book is a true find for children and teachers. It clearly mixes art, poetry, and geography. This book shares the magnificence of earth in a colorful way. Tucked inside your book review there are lines that I love. “shaped and sculpted” the “artistry of the Earth? I was reminded of how our home planet is an ever evolving, dynamic entity full of beauty and wonder.” Those lines are sparking my imagination. Perhaps a short poem will evolve about the majesty of Earth. Thank you for the book review and a delicious lunch honoring the Earth.“Awesome Earth is Graham’s valentine to the planet and a budding geologist’s dream.” Let me add it is a love note about Earth.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Oh, Jama, you always find the treasures! This book looks so good! As does Joan’s chicken salad and your lava cake. 😀 Pass me a helping of each, please. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

  18. I can’t wait to get a copy of this book! Thank you for sharing it here and for the yummy treats to go along with the poems!

    Liked by 1 person

  20. Appreciations for unveiling for us Joan & Tania’s book which sounds like a great BLAST! As a visitor to Sicily I’m especially fascinated with giant Earth pimples that pop. We are honored with an oil painting, by my Mom-in-Law Annino, of Mt. Etna in place of pride on our wall. This seismic book duo sound so excited about their discoveries, kids & families will get in on the ground floor about lava & etc. I’m late to comment, as is usually my natural rhytym, but I’ve enjoyed this post as much as if I was at ground zero.

    So glad for your mention of your home state, which is so legendary in literature, art, song & more. I’m sure that made reading

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