Review by Jacqueline Thomas
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books (May 21, 2024)
Length: 32 pages
ISBN13: 9781665935128
Ages: 4 – 8
Picture Book, Fiction
“The whole world is made up of our backyards,”
Life can be busy, even at a young age, and it can be hard to slow down and nurture curiosity for the world around us. Enter Jami Gigot’s picture book, The World in our Backyard: an opportunity to slow down, observe, and appreciate life as it’s happening. Gigot’s story highlights the many layers of worlds that exist on our planet and reminds us that even though it is easy to feel overwhelmed at the weight and size of our world, we may be small, but significant parts.
The storyline is not complex, it does not seek to have conflict or even delve into relations between the unnamed characters, but rather offers a simple premise of describing the processes of life from an outside perspective. This delightful picture book serves as a perfect tool to ground little ones, or anyone for that matter, at the end of a busy or chaotic day.
This book does a great job of telling the story by using both images and words in conjunction with one another. On their own, the text seems to explain a human neighbourhood, but really, when combined with the illustrations, it is being used to describe the natural processes of the world, from the tiniest of ants, to country-like melodies of the birdsongs. This helps readers to personify the world around them, increasing empathy and promoting care for the environment.
The strength of the book is its simple illustrations. They are not overwhelming or overstimulating with colour, and the gentle watercolor paintings allow for a calming reading experience, perfect for before bed or as a cozy afternoon read. The illustrations provide a comforting reminder to readers that even when life gets overwhelming and busy, our natural world keeps going and thriving.
When I first picked up this book, I expected it to be an exploration of a backyard full of adventure with characters at the centre. I expected to finish the book feeling curious but also a bit disheartened, because when I read it, my backyard was dead, frozen, and far from ideal for exploring. I figured I would ultimately forget the story altogether, as so often happens with picture books. Instead, I was left with a sense of peace, and a greater appreciation for life outside of myself, something we could all use a bit more of. This is a book I keep coming back to, now in the summer when my backyard is alive and well, I still need a reminder that life can really be about the little things and, in the midst of a busy season, I love the gentle reminder to slow down.
I would recommend this book for people who need a cozy comforting book to read with the young ones in their lives. It’s a perfect book to pick up for a bed time wind-down, or to help kiddos connect with and notice the natural world around them.
Jacqueline is a third year student in Psychology and Special Education. She loves reading romance and coming of age novels and loves to write children and young adult fiction. When she’s not studying or working, she can be found on the dance floor, baking up chocolate sweet treats, or taking meme-able photos of her cats.
YOUNG ADULTING 