
Environmentally aware children's book!
When the Earth Slept is an illustrated children's fiction book promoting environmental awareness and respect for the Earth. It offers an alternative viewpoint to children and adults to understand the current situation of Covid-19. It is akin to the role that Roberto Benigni played in the movie "Life Is Beautiful" where he uses fantasy to make sense of the reality that surrounds him and his family.
Raging fires, rampant earthquakes and violent windstorms occur as Mother Earth becomes more and more sick. In a final attempt to find relief, she looks to the people to help her with a final plea from the Earth to get the rest that she needs.
After countless years of enduring the burden of supporting all living organisms, the Earth becomes very sick. Her fever causes wildfires, her chills create countless earthquakes, and her sneezing and cough become hurricanes and tornadoes that ravage the world as we know it. In a final plea to get the rest that she needs, the Earth turns to the people and asks them to go inside and close their doors and give her the gift of time. After much hesitation, they finally agree, and a heavy silence falls as the Earth drifts off to slumber. As time passes the people begin to fear that the Earth will never wake up, and so they decide to go outside and dance. They hope that the drumming will ease her from her slumber, but it does not. They are forced to dance harder and harder until finally, they forget why they are dancing in the first place, lost as they are in their own joy. From experiencing their joy, the Earth begins to heal. As she heals, the people also heal. Together they wake up and create a new world where they learn from one another and find a mutual respect.