About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is in that specific middle-grade phase of being obsessed with 'gross' facts, strange animals, and the 'why' behind the natural world. It is an ideal choice for the student who finds traditional science textbooks dry but lights up at the mention of giant prehistoric bugs or the bizarre ways creatures avoid extinction. Phil Gates uses a humorous, irreverent tone to tackle the massive concept of evolution, making it feel like a thrilling survival story rather than a classroom lecture. At its heart, the book explores themes of resilience and the wonder of biological diversity. While it deals with the reality of extinction and the 'struggle for survival,' it does so with a light touch and plenty of witty illustrations. It is perfectly pitched for 8 to 12-year-olds who possess a dark sense of humor and a deep curiosity about how life on Earth began and where it might be headed next. Parents will appreciate how it builds a complex scientific vocabulary through engaging, high-interest storytelling.
