This Is The Earth

Author Deedee Cummings

Deedee Cummings is a professional dreamer. She is also an author, therapist, attorney, and mom from Louisville, Kentucky. Cummings founded Make A Way Media in 2014 after struggling to find books with characters who looked like her own children and an extreme lack of stories that reflected their life experiences. Books published by Make A Way focus on hope, diversity, social justice, and therapeutic skills for children and adults. Her work has been featured in HuffPost, Forbes, NPR, USA Today, Essence Magazine, Psych Central, well+Good, and The EveryGirl, among other media outlets. In 2021, she was appointed to the Kentucky Early Childhood Advisory Council by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, and reappointed to a second term in 2025, acknowledging her decades-long service to the children and families of Kentucky. Cummings is also the founder of The Louisville Book Festival. She was inspired to work to highlight and celebrate a culture of reading in her community after working as an in-home therapist and visiting homes of children who had no books. Cummings believes literacy is a fundamental human right. Her work highlights inspiring messages that remind us all it is never too late to begin again.

Illustrator Charlene Mosley

Charlene is a German-American fine artist and illustrator based in San Diego with a bachelor’s degree in Art from San Diego State University. She has traveled worldwide to create art and to immerse herself into different cultures. Charlene has illustrated various award-winning children’s books and other literary works. Creating illustrations for children’s books has been one of the artist’s favorite things to do. Every time she reads a new manuscript, it gives her imagination the freedom to embark on another colorful journey of exploration and discovery. Besides being an illustrator, Charlene is also a muralist and fine artist.

Awards:

2019 Purple Dragon Fly 1st Place in Cultural Diversity 

Reviews:

This is the Earth introduces some valuable life lessons. The author does a beautiful job sharing the concepts of acceptance, diversity, and peaceful living in this simple children’s book. With easy to read words and brightly illustrated pages, the author expresses a wealth of emotions and ideas. This is the Earth is another book that presents many life lessons and social skills in a short space. Every time we read the book, we can pick up something new to discuss as the author and the illustrator present many emotions and more profound points to ponder on each page.

Basic acts of kindness and acceptance are presented simply and matter-of-factly with illustrations that speak volumes beyond the picture book words. With our world in its current state, this is the perfect book to remind our children of the benefits of kindness and cooperation. 

-Angela 

Deedee Cummings books may be geared toward children, but they are absolutely books that I think every person should read, regardless of age!

In the two books I have read by her, the message is great to start children with, but are messages that many adults forget as they get older. Especially in times of a pandemic and politics. Both this book and In the Nick of Time need to be broadcast to all people to try and get society back to a “nice” place.

This is the Earth is super simple to read with a max of 2 sentences on a page (although most pages only have one). It has a good rhyme as well which makes it easy for little ones to read, or readers just starting out.

The illustrations are gorgeous with cute little details that I missed the first time I read through the book. (Pretty sure the turtle, chameleon and crab are my favorites!)

Honest to goodness, I know adults – MANY adults – that should read this book and keep it on hand. Maybe read it daily so they can ingrain the message in their brain.

We all live on Earth. We are all different – races, cultures, upbringings. We can meet in the middle without disliking one another. We can accept one another. We can learn from one another. “You do you and I’ll do me” – no better message.

I loved this book and am definitely going to keep it near by to remind myself and my children how everyone needs to remember to teach everyone.

-Leels

I recommend This is the Earth to every citizen on this planet. Although the book is advertised as written for children and middle-grade ages, I can’t think of a single person who would not benefit from reading this story.

The messages of love, peace, inclusion, and responsibility shine through every word and illustration. Speaking of which, Charlene Mosley created vibrant, bold, and colorful illustrations for the book. 

I sincerely believe that if we start young, we can raise a new generation of caring individuals. The book reminds me of the mantras from the 1960s for peace, love, and brotherhood. We got lost or sidetracked over the years. It’s time to go back to loving your neighbor, and every person on the planet is now a neighbor. We have proved time and again just how small our planet truly is.

The thoughtful discussion questions included at the end of the story are perfect for book clubs, teachers, or individuals, who want to contemplate more on what they read. The author included a few famous quotes for you to ponder. If you read carefully, you will get chills considering how appropriate they are for today’s world.

-Gina Rae Mitchell 

Join the K Club for free activity guides that teach kids the social-emotional skills they need to thrive: https://www.makeawaymedia.com/k-club/ 

Turn any book into an empathy building too with these post-reading questions: https://www.makeawaymedia.com/product/questions-that-build-empathy-downloadable/