The Soot
When mysterious black clouds darken the city sky, one brave African girl discovers how to fight the monster of pollution. Join Chisom on a colorful journey of discovery as she encounters a mysterious dark cloud in the sky. What starts as a scary morning with soot filling the air becomes an inspiring lesson about environmental awareness and how even the smallest actions can help our planet breathe. When Chisom wakes up to find the sky darkened by strange black clouds, she's frightened by what she calls "a monster" in the sky. Through conversations with her mother, her teacher Mr. Ogaga, and even the local newspaper vendor, Chisom learns about soot pollution—where it comes from, how it affects our world, and most importantly, what we can do about it. With vibrant illustrations that capture both the beauty of Chisom's world and the concerning change in her environment, "The Soot" introduces young readers to environmental concepts through a relatable story. When Mr. Ogaga demonstrates how pollution wraps around our planet like too many blankets, Chisom's concern transforms into a determination to make a difference. This engaging picture book ends with a hopeful message as Chisom plants her very own tree—lovingly named "Blankover"—to help remove the "artificial blankets" of pollution from our earth. Perfect for Earth Day, science units on pollution and climate, or for any young reader curious about how they can help protect our planet.
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Bestselling author of mystery novels, weaving suspense and intrigue. Captivating readers with every page turn.
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The sudden contrast from the beautiful and vibrant pink room to the dark, grey soot grabbed my attention immediately. I loved the little details of the clouds actually being lips that suck up the soot to match Chisom’s imagination. I also really loved that in the end, her mother didn’t just use words to settle Chisom’s fears, but used her actions by planting a sapling with her.
A delightful and culturally sensitive introduction to environmentalism, with lush illustrations, this short title is sure to spark conversation and ignite young minds.
What a cute way to introduce to children a way to start caring about the planet! The art felt very diverse and unique. It was a good message, and a good read that would be informative for children! Thanks for the Arc read!
A short, sweet book about climate anxiety in children, the ending is a little abrupt (one more page with a "this is how we can help" type thing would feel more final I suspect), but it's a nice explainer in story form for a small child I received an advance copy for free from NetGalley, on the expectation that I would provide an honest review
"The Soot" by Ayo Oyeku is a charming story about a little girl who is concerned about pollution negatively affecting the planet. I think this story can serve as a great introduction to air pollution for children because it explains the topic in very simple terms. The representation of soot acting like a suffocating blanket around the Earth was very clever, and it really communicates a sense of urgency to help the planet. The illustrations were detailed and unique, and I appreciated the bright colors of the illustrations, which will not only help keep a child's attention while reading but also provide a nice contrast to the dark soot. The transitions between scenes were a little clunky, and the ending was a little abrupt, but the message is definitely received.
I think this is a wonderful book to introduce children to concepts of environmental issues. The book has beautiful illustrations and make it easy for kids to to follow along.
For the most part I liked this book, but I thought that it ended abruptly. I would have liked to see at least one last sentence, just to add a note finality to the story. The book could still be open-ended, but a little bit of closure is still nice. However, that is my only critique for this book. I really liked the general message of this book, and I think that it is very important for kids to learn just how important trees are for both us and the Earth. This book does a great job of making air pollution and trees very easy-to-understand for little kids, and the information included in this story will definitely be relevant past childhood, so I applaud that choice. Lastly, I thought that the illustrator did a splendid job of conveying Chisom's various emotions at different points in the story, and it really helps readers become more involved in the book.
The story is cute and well written giving a good intro to children on how respect the planet but the netgalley copy was so messy it was terrible. The illustrations were good.