A BETTER HOME, written and illustrated by Christian and Tony Yoon, is an environmental children’s picture book in which three animal friends discover that pollution and litter have made their homes uninhabitable. When Chris the crocodile, Fia the flamingo, and Samuel the sea turtle meet up to share their grief about the damage to their habitats, Samuel collects scuba diving equipment from the bottom of the ocean so they can escape the polluted Earth and find a new home in outer space. Many animals follow, leaving the humans behind to reckon with their choices and clean up the Earth in the hopes that the animals will one day return.

Each of the three main characters has an apt and realistic environmental concern in their habitat: Chris’s swamp is overrun with trash, Fia’s lagoon is polluted with chemicals, and the sea turtles are contending with single-use plastics that injure them when they mistake them for food. After the animals leave Earth, the humans alter their choices to reflect the popular consensus on eco-friendly practices: driving electric cars, planting trees, and picking up loose trash. These examples of healthy, environmentally responsible behaviors are an appropriate introduction to the basics of reducing negative climate effects for children. The book just scratches the surface, and what happens to the garbage once the humans collect it, for instance, is not discussed. However, children looking for further information will find this an empathetic jumping-off point.

The animals in the story are sympathetic characters who express their sadness over their homes’ destruction with tears and dejected exclamations of “Our homes are ruined! What do we do? Where do we go?” The humans react to the animals’ departure with desperation, determination, and a solemn vow to better the Earth for the animals’ benefit. Their community-centered cooperation is an inspiring message for readers, bolstered by images of people in boats collecting trash from waterways and planting trees as a group.

When the animals leave the planet, the illustrations of various creatures (including a skunk and a snake) wearing scuba helmets and jetpacks offer humor to help soften the blow of the book’s serious themes. Aside from the scuba-gear-fantasy element, the illustrations are realistic; and they are all skillfully drawn with colors that depict the beauty of—and damage to—the Earth’s natural environment. Fia’s lagoon (subjected to an oil spill) and the vibrant diversity of the coral reefs in Samuel’s oceanic habitat, for instance, are vivid portrayals of eye-catching environments whose allure makes them easy to want to protect. The cliffhanger ending may leave young readers wanting a resolution, but, in the end, A BETTER HOME is an inspiring call to action and a primer for kids interested in cleaning up a polluted environment.

A BETTER HOME, written and illustrated by Christian and Tony Yoon, is a delightful primer and call to action about pollution for eco-friendly children.

~Aimee Jodoin for IndieReader