The planets are going on holiday. Jupiter, Venus, Mars, Uranus, Mercury, Neptune and Saturn – they’re all packed and ready to go. But apparently there’s no room on the bus for Earth. She’s upset, and then determined so she sets off in her car and confronts the others about why didn’t they let her on. Their answer is surprising: they left her out because they think she’s got fleas… When Earth points out what the real reason is for all that movement, the others are amazed at the myriad of birds, fish, animals and insects that live on Earth. She explains to them too that they can’t catch the things she’s got, to support life you have to be just right.
In Alex Latimer’s illustrations all the planets have personalities and their holiday to the Milky Way looks like great fun. There’s a message to learn about being kind to others, but lots of information to pick up too on the planets and their characteristics, and it’s all delivered in a satisfying rhyming text. And how can you resist any book that depicts the moon as a friendly little dog?
Why didn't the other planets invite Earth to their holiday? Soon they'll find out the wonderful truth about Earth's 'fleas' and change their minds.
When Earth turns up on the holiday she wasn't invited to and finds all the other planets in the solar system in the hot tub - even Pluto! - she discovers exactly why: it looks like she has FLEAS! Yuck. But when Earth asks everyone to take a closer look inside her atmosphere, they're amazed by what they see.
Award-winning Alex Latimer's The Trouble with Earth is the perfect story to teach us to be kind and less quick to judge others.
Alex Latimer is an award-winning writer and illustrator based in Cape Town, South Africa. He has written and illustrated dozens of picture books which have been published all around the world.
Alex has two daughters who read his books to make sure they’re fun and interesting, and a dog named Bernie who goes along on walks with him when he can’t think of any good ideas. Alex loves dinosaurs, space, the sea, and all of the fruits – but only some of the vegetables.
