Evolution (DK Eyewitness Books) [Hardcover]

Linda Gamlin (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: DK Eyewitness Books

The most trusted nonfiction series on the market, Eyewitness Books provide an in-depth, comprehensive look at their subjects with a unique integration of words and pictures.
Eyewitness Evolution is DK's classic look at Charles Darwin and the theory of natural selection, now reissued with a CD and wall chart.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...a mini museum between the covers of a book. [Eyewitness series] -- The New York Times

These books' striking visual impact will draw in even the most casual readers. [Eyewitness series] -- School Library Journal --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 72 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN; Har/Cdr/Ch edition (May 18, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0756650283
• ISBN-13: 978-0756650285
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #82,479 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #35 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Biology

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Historical /Sensitive Coverage of Evolution Teen Appropriate, October 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Eyewitness Science ~ Evolution - Explore the world of living things, and trace the fascinating discoveries that explain the amazing diversity of life on Earth (Hardcover)

I was looking for a book on evolution to give to a child who was asking questions about the subject. I found this book in eyewitness fashion to be low on text but told its story through many engaging interesting pictures. The book sensitively dealt with questions of creation and biblic questions relating to evolution, answering them with scientific and historical information. It also provided multicultural references and included creation stories from non-western cultures as well.

This book is a must for high school or even junior high science teachers who are faced with justifying teaching their subject matter to parents, board members and community members. Not to mention, its a beautiful descriptive book that is a welcome addition to any general level scientific book collection.

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Reference Work For Children, September 1, 2001

By 

M. S. MAYFIELD "thomas_paine" (Cameron Park, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Eyewitness: Evolution (Hardcover)

With a wealth of drawings, pictures, and photographs, this book explains the basics of natural selection and the evolution of life on earth.

The authors also do a good job of confronting issues that have little to do with science but which may nevertheless be raised by some in connection with this branch of human knowledge. References to certain mythological beliefs are done in a straight-forward and non-offensive way, with reasoned explanations of why people may have thought the way they did (or do). This book is highly recommended for children in Middle School who are confronted with class-mates who do not understand evolution or who for some reason have been taught that it is not 'true.'

But the main strength of this book is a strong presentation of the evidence for natural selection that is found in nature. By combining many interesting facts about fascinating animals with a small dose of hard science this book is a perfect introduction to areas of science such as geology and anthropology. As such it also provides much information that will complement Middle School science classes. This book should be in every educated family's library.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, basic somewhat sweeping intro in need of some updating, August 17, 2008

By 

I should be at the gym (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Eyewitness: Evolution (Eyewitness Books) (Library Binding)

This product provides a visually interesting--though *almost* too visually busy on a few pages--introduction to evolution. Its style is somewhat stilted, and the reading level is certainly for older children. (I am not an expert on determining reading comprehension standards, but as a comparison, the reading comprehension level required by the Harry Potter novels, which I have read, is LESS advanced than that required by "Eyewitness: Evolution," though the imagery, much of photographic, will appeal to younger readers.

The structure is a basically chronological arrangement of topics relating to evolution, from pre-scientific myths about creation to DNA-related topics. Each topic is covered in two pages--and graphically designed as a two-page spread--with the primary block of text relating to the topic on the left-hand page under a large title heading. The amount of text is more significant than you might suppose, given the book's many images, since sidebars or captions with word counts nearly as large as the aforementioned primary textual block accompany most images.

Admirably, the book places Charles Darwin is a larger context of biological and geological ideas made in the 1700s and 1800s; it also looks at genetics-related discoveries after Darwin's death.

However, the 1993 book needs some (but arguably surprisingly little) updating in light of additional discoveries and insights provided by science in the 1990s and 2000s, including the Human Genome Project, data on the Cambrian Explosion and catastrophes, and more. Though the book wisely left out some sub-topics trendy at the time of writing: it does laudably stick to the established basics, and has keep the book remarkably solid as an introduction to evolution even after more than 15 years.

Its 2-page spread on "Science and belief" is above par in that it lays out the basics of the scientific method itself (evidence, peer review, etc.).