Friends In Nature by Marina Ruiz

subtitled Discover Earth’s Amazing Ecosystems.

And oh what a lovely and surprisingly topical look this is at not only the ways that plants and animals form mutually beneficial ecosystems in nature, but also how integral they all are to human life! A lot of science books talk about humans almost as if we’re separate from the rest of the planet, but that simply isn’t true. Friends In Nature integrates humanity into the tapestry of biodiversity worldwide, underscoring both how important ecology is to our continued existence and how that makes it our responsibility to be thoughtful custodians of the planet.

All of this is done in a very gentle manner, however, as at no time does Marina Ruiz come across as preachy. And she doesn’t have to be! Her selections, in both text and in her charming art, are wisely chosen to convey not only a wide array of ecosystems but also to hook in both young and advancing readers through curiosity, utility or sheer cuteness. Whether talking about different kinds of seeds to (teehee) poop to elephants to otters to salmon, and then back to trees (with plenty of pitstops along the way,) her global journey is fascinating and lyrical, with a style meant to convey the cyclical, circular nature of it all.

The language is a little more complicated than you’d expect from a picture book, tho the quality of the glorious foiled cover should warn adults that this is not a tome for the very young, grubby-fingered or careless. This should, instead, be a prized addition to the library of any amateur scientist of (arguably) any age. Ms Ruiz’ art throughout is spectacular, with wonderfully fluid layouts that underscore the interconnectedness of it all.

But by far my favorite thing about this book was its appeal to community, emphasizing how people need one another to survive and thrive, and how that extends to the rest of the natural life on the planet too. A lot of people get caught up in weird ideas of independence somehow lending them an aura of moral superiority, and while I certainly agree that grown people and entities should be able to make autonomous choices, I think it’s silly to believe that needing other people makes you weak. People are stronger together, and I’m glad that Ms Ruiz has made that the foundational message of her book: that we are all important parts of the planet Earth and thus should look out for all of its component parts together. This is a crucial lesson for any reader, and one conveyed so gorgeously here that only the most stonehearted would dare refuse it.

Friends In Nature by Marina Ruiz was published March 18 2025 by Laurence King and is available from all good booksellers, including