It’s not long into their car trip that two siblings begin to squabble in the back seat. They bickered about who will get into the car first and continue to grumble at each other about sides of the car and whose window view is whose.

Dad is driving and sighing at his children arguing over the concept of their own space. He realises we as human beings have done just that since the beginning of time.

A voice comes from nowhere, inviting them all on a detour. With space helmets on, and brother and sister sitting in awed silence, they lift off into the vastness of the night.

The moon is the first stop, but it will take a year to get there. Upon arriving, they are asked to think back to how life on Earth was a year ago… It’s a picture of conflict over technology, social media, and our differences were moulded from that.

Next stop Venus – 78 years drive away (at the average motorist speed on Earth of 37 miles per hour / approx 60 kilometres per hour.) About 78 years ago back on Earth, World War II raged across our planet.

Each journey and arrival at a planet has the narrator turning back to Earth to see how humankind fought for space, land or entire continents – right back until there was less than 2 million people on this entire planet we call home.

This Space that our infinitesimal Earth occupies, really puts tiny squabbles about car back seat space into proportion.

Not really important at all.

Another Jeffers masterpiece! As Oliver Jeffers’ children age, he produces another beautiful, thought provoking book for them to ponder, and we get to share in his gift to them.

This book begins in a space we all know – the bottom of the stairs in a family home, and then inside the family car. But this common space is soon lifted into the space around us where other planets in our solar system lie.

Not only is this a wonderful way to describe the solar system and how mind-blowingly big it is, but Meanwhile Back on Earth… is a step back through humankind’s history of conflict and desire for more space. Will we ever learn?

Under the dust jacket of this hardback is a surprise of stars pressed into the cover along with a car and a line of planets crossing the book.

This journey begins as soon as you open the book with a map of our solar system drawn in Jeffers’ distinctive style, showing the distance between Earth and the other planets.

I knew as soon as I saw this book, I would have to sit in a quiet space to read and truly appreciate it – and I was right. Loved it!

Author / Illustrator – Oliver Jeffers

Picture Book

(2022, Space, Universe, Planets, Solar System, Sun, Siblings, History, Mankind, Land, War, Battles)