Explore the emotions, hopes, dreams, and activities that we all share in this vibrant book, which features die-cut pages and a skillful weaving of text and illustration. There are so many different kinds of people in the world, in so many different places. But we all share the same emotions, hopes, and dreams, and we all engage in the same activities to find joy in our lives. This enchanting picture book, which features die-cut pages, explores the idea that we are all connected by a common thread, despite differences in who we are and where we live. No matter where in the world people are, we are all one under the same sky. Editorial Reviews 06/25/2018 Cats under the night sky and lions in the noonday sun, deer in the mountains and rabbits in the forest, dolphins in the ocean and birds in the air--all of them "live under the same sky," Teckentrup writes, "in lands near and far." Each pair of animals, and each pair of spreads, are united by a die-cut that reveals something of the second page in the first, and repeats the first line of the poem with the second line. The cats, composed of flat, graphic shapes, have yellow eyes that mimic a die-cut yellow cloud among the stars; a page turn reveals the cloud to be part of a sun-baked sky over a grasslands-dwelling family of lions. Earth-toned browns and water-toned blues carry through the theme of a world shared by many. By drawing the animals into relationships with one another, Teckentrup (Don't Wake Up the Tiger) celebrates the majesty of the natural world and the creatures that inhabit it, and in plain, almost prayerlike words, holds up this essential union. Ages 3-6. (Sept.) - Publishers Weekly 09/01/2018 PreS-Gr 1--Beginning with "We live under the same sky...in lands near and far./We live under the same sky.../wherever we are," this lyrical tale carries the message of unity, beautifully illustrated by assorted animals from around the world. Two of the poem lines accompany every full page illustration. Each spread features a differently shaped cutout in the page, cleverly incorporated into the image; as the page is turned, this opening highlights and repeats a line of the poem further reinforcing the theme of interconnection. Teckentrup's stylized earth-toned graphic illustrations of cats and lions, penguins and otters, deer and rabbits depict the beauty and diversity of nature but her message "We dream the same dreams...and we dream them...together" extends to the human community, even if no people are depicted in the book. VERDICT A delightful book with wide appeal that should be welcome in most collections.--Yelena Voysey, formerly at Pickering Educational Library, Boston University - School Library Journal 2018-06-25 Animals around the world are united in living "under the same sky" in this die-cut picture book for the very young. What do cats on a rooftop, owls in trees, lions on plains, penguins in snow, deer, dolphins, bears, foxes, and flamingos all have in common? In simple, rhyming text, answers appear through cloud- or heart-shaped holes in the pages: "We live under the same sky"; "We feel the same love"; "we play the same games"; "we sing the same songs"; "we dream the same dreams / and we dream them... / ...together." The textured illustrations favor darkened hues of blue, green, teal, and brighter, natural hues of green and gold, with charming, collagelike animals looking at each other or at the sky. For grown-ups wanting to introduce ideas of world peace and unity to young children without broaching the messiness of humanity, this visually pleasing trip across the world's natural settings could fill the bill. The book's main attraction, the cutouts that offer a surprise upon first reading, is a lovely effect, though the fragility of the pages may hasten their end--not necessarily a bad thing, as the slight text has little staying power as well. Not entirely new, but beautiful and comforting enough to be a reliable bedtime story. (Picture book. 3-6) - Kirkus Reviews