Our Air

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.)