''All the World'' is a 2009

children's A child () is a human being between the stages of birth and puberty, or between the developmental period of infancy and puberty. The term may also refer to an unborn human being. In English-speaking countries, the legal definition of ''child ...

picture book A picture book combines visual and verbal narratives in a book format, most often aimed at young children. With the narrative told primarily through text, they are distinct from comics, which do so primarily through sequential images. The ima ...

written by Liz Garton Scanlon, and illustrated by

Marla Frazee Marla Frazee (born January 16, 1958) is an American author and illustrator of children's literature. She has received three Caldecott Honors for picture book illustration. Early life and college Frazee was born in Los Angeles, California and mo ...

. Scanlon's second book, it was critically acclaimed and won a

Caldecott Honor The Randolph Caldecott Medal, frequently shortened to just the Caldecott, annually recognizes the preceding year's "most distinguished American picture book for children". It is awarded to the illustrator by the Association for Library Service ...

in 2010.

Synopsis

The book follows a group of family and friends in a seaside community from morning until night, and illustrates the importance of both the largest and smallest moments in life.

Reception

Pre-release

Two months prior to its release, Daniel Kraus of ''

The Booklist ''Booklist'' is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. ''Booklist''s primary audience consists of libraries, educators, and booksellers. The magazine is ...

'' wrote: "Scanlon uses a pleasing rhythm to move from normal-life specifics all the way to more existential concepts.... Adults should enjoy this, too, which will only increase its popularity." The following month, ''All the World'' was the subject of a starred review in ''

Kirkus ''Kirkus Reviews'' is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus. The magazine's publisher, Kirkus Media, is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fiction, non ...

'', which concluded thus: "At once a lullaby and an invigorating love song to nature, families and interconnectedness."

Post-release

Upon its publication, ''

The Horn Book Magazine ''The Horn Book Magazine'', founded in Boston in 1924, is the oldest bimonthly magazine dedicated to reviewing children's literature. It began as a "suggestive purchase list" prepared by Bertha Mahony and Elinor Whitney Field, proprietors of t ...

'' Jennifer M. Brabander said, "Scanlon's text has a child-friendly simplicity reminiscent of

Margaret Wise Brown Margaret Wise Brown (May 23, 1910 – November 13, 1952) was an American writer of children's books, including ''Goodnight Moon'' (1947) and ''The Runaway Bunny'' (1942), both illustrated by Clement Hurd. She has been called "the laureate of the ...

around which Frazee's illustrations build a satisfying narrative.... ''All the World'' will win audiences with a sensibility both timeless and thoroughly modern." Writing in ''

The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books ''The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books'' is an academic journal established in 1945 by Frances E. Henne ( University of Chicago Graduate Library School).Wedgeworth, Robert. ''World Encyclopedia of Library and Information Services''. C ...

'', Deborah Stevenson praised Frazee's work and called the story "a moving and accessible celebration of the poetry of ordinary human life". " canlon'ssecond book," said Andrew Bast in ''

The New York Times Book Review ''The New York Times Book Review'' (''NYTBR'') is a weekly paper-magazine supplement to the Sunday edition of ''The New York Times'' in which current non-fiction and fiction books are reviewed. It is one of the most influential and widely rea ...

'', "weaves a sumptuous and openhearted poem of 18 couplets over 38 pages, all revolving around the title's singsong refrain. The verses take readers from an unexplored beach to a busy music-filled family room and into a tranquil, moonlit night. Beautifully illustrated by Maria Frazee, who won a

this year for '' A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever'', it's the kind of book that will be pulled off the shelf at bedtime over and over again." Bast, however, added that the book "may be...just too beautiful" at the expense of a nonexistent story. ''All the World'' was the recipient of the 2010 Caldecott Honor for Frazee's illustrations.

Adaptation

A six-minute animated short film based on the book, narrated by

Joanne Woodward Joanne Gignilliat Trimmier Woodward (born February 27, 1930) is an American retired actress. She made her career breakthrough in the 1950s and earned esteem and respect playing complex women with a characteristic nuance and depth of character. ...

and directed by

Galen Fott Galen Sander Fott (born September 9, 1963) is an American director, animator, writer, and actor. His animated short films have won awards and have screened at film festivals in London, Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, Houston (twelve-time Remi Awa ...

, was released by

Weston Woods Studios Weston Woods Studios (or simply Weston Woods) is an American production company that makes audio and short films based on well-known books for children. It was founded in 1953 by Morton Schindel in Weston, Connecticut, and named after the wooded ...

in 2011.

References

{{child-book-stub 2009 children's books American picture books Caldecott Honor–winning works