About This Book
A parent would reach for this book when they want to ignite a sense of deep time and environmental wonder in a child who is curious about the natural world. It is the perfect choice for a family preparing for an outdoor adventure or for a child who feels small in a big world and needs to see the beauty in that scale. Through a beautifully illustrated hike, the book explores how the Earth changes over millions of years while grounding that massive history in the quiet, loving bond between a father and daughter. Jason Chin masterfully blends hard science with breathtaking art, making complex geological concepts feel like a magical discovery. While technically a nonfiction book, it reads like a journey through time, using clever die-cuts to bridge the gap between a modern desert hike and the ancient oceans and forests that once existed in the same spot. It is an exceptional tool for teaching patience, observation, and gratitude for the planet's long history, suitable for children ages 6 to 12 who are ready to look beyond the surface of the earth.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
None.
Ideal Reader
A child who loves 'how it works' books but also appreciates beauty, or a student who feels overwhelmed by the abstract concept of 'millions of years' and needs a visual way to grasp deep time.
Parent Prep
This book can be read cold, but parents should be prepared to pause. The illustrations are dense with detail, and the die-cuts invite tactile exploration. You might want to look at the labeled diagrams in the back matter if your child asks for specific names of rock layers or prehistoric eras. Be prepared for conversation starters, as children may ask, "How do we know the world was different before us?" or express a sudden desire to go exploring. None.
Age Experience
Younger children (6-8) will be captivated by the 'time travel' aspect of the die-cuts and the animals. Older children (9-12) will better grasp the geological terminology and the staggering scale of the erosion process.
What Makes It Special
Unlike standard geology books, Chin uses the physical medium of the book (die-cuts and gatefolds) to mirror the physical process of excavation and discovery, making the passage of time feel tangible rather than theoretical.
Read plot summary
A father and daughter hike from the bottom of the Grand Canyon to its rim. As they move through different biotic zones (from the Inner Gorge to the North Rim), the narrative uses die-cut pages to peel back the layers of time. When they see a fossil in a rock, the page flip reveals the ancient environment where that creature once lived, eventually culminating in a panoramic view of the canyon's vastness.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The book shows how a fossil today was once a living creature in a different world. If someone found a 'fossil' of your life millions of years from now, what object would tell them the most about you?
2
As the father and daughter hike higher, the plants and animals change. Why do you think different creatures live at the bottom of the canyon versus the top?
3
The river took millions of years to carve the canyon. Can you think of other things in nature that take a long time to happen but create something beautiful?
4
Looking at the big fold-out page at the end, how does it feel to see how small the people are compared to the canyon?
