From School Library Journal
Grade 5–8—This book is, in effect, a companion to a spectacular exhibit at The Field Museum in Chicago—a panoramic view of the evolutionary history of life on Earth. Opening with an invitation to a newly formed planet devoid of life, the authors ask readers to proceed through successive periods—the Cambrian and the Ordovician, the Silurian and the Devonian—right up to the Cenozoic era, during which modern man evolved. Interspersed are segments on various mass extinctions, the contribution of Charles Darwin, the development of legs and "good eggs," and various other aspects of history. Introductory text for each period is accompanied by a "you are there" time line, a small map of the then-current global geography, and several pages of excellent illustrations of contemporary life-forms. The lively bits of text are well supported by informative captions. Human evolution is part of this package, including a nifty page on "Useless Body Parts" (think of the muscles used to wiggle your ears—if you still have them). Museum-loving readers will pounce on this volume, and dinophiles may be surprised at the long prehistory of their beloved "monsters." Supplemental books might include Linda Gamlin's Evolution (DK, 2000).—Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
*Starred Review* Based on an exhibit at Chicago’s Field Museum, this big spacious volume packs in a wealth of information about evolution over four billion years, right up to modern humans and the basic features that distinguish them from other hominids. There are detailed, beautiful photographs and glorious paintings on every double-page spread, and the chatty text is accessible for grade-schoolers, but there is no condescension; teens and adults will want this, too, for browsing and for the intense discussion and connections with present hot issues. The story begins with the geologic time scale, and many excellent sidebars make clear the progression of events. Of course, Darwin and his groundbreaking theory of natural selection is a focus. Exciting fossil sites, including one in Wyoming, are shown, though readers might want to know more about how fossils are dated. The drama of five mass extinctions will grab conservationists: the worst one, about 250 million years ago, which wiped out 9 out of every 10 species, could have been caused by global warming, and the book raises an urgent question: Could there be another one because of what humans are doing now? An extensive glossary and bibliography conclude this exceptional title. Grades 5-8. --Hazel Rochman
About the Author
Erica Kelly developed the Evolving Planet exhibition at The Field Museum. A writer and specialist in using creative interpretive methods to connect audiences with subject matter, she has developed exhibitions on topics ranging from ancient Chinese jades to natural disasters to the life cycle of the cicada. Richard Kissel is a paleontologist and educator at The Field Museum, where he served as content specialist on the Evolving Planet exhibition. He has traveled the world in search of fossils from throughout Earth’s history, excavating the remains of everything from trilobites to dinosaurs to mastodons. Erica and Richard both live in Chicago.
