Life on Earth: The Story of Evolution

Life on Earth: The Story of Evolution
by Steve Jenkins

Life on Earth: The Story of Evolution
Our Price: $148.66
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $19.25 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


or

Book Summary Information

Author: Steve Jenkins
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2002-10-28
ISBN: 0618164766
Number of pages: 40
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

Book Reviews of Life on Earth: The Story of Evolution

Book Review: Great, with some (minor?) exceptions
Summary: 4 Stars

As others have said, this book is quite good, with beautiful collages as illustrations. The first half of the book is simple, following Earth's great geologic ages and the major lifeforms therein. The second half is about the process of biological evolution itself, and much wordier (you may have to slow down and explain a bit for the kids here -- evolution is, after all, a complex process).

There are two details I'd like to mention.

First, when describing the rise of the dinosaurs, an error in paleontology: "They live in the sea, on the land, and in the air." This is a popular misconception. There were two main groups of aquatic reptiles during the Mesozoic, neither of them dinosaurian: the plesiosaurs (think "Loch Ness Monster") and the ichthyosaurs (huge fish-shaped "lizards"). There were no flying dinosaurs (unless one counts birds, of course); it was the pterosaurs ("wing lizards") that dominated the skies. Pterosaurs, though, like crocodilians and dinosaurs, WERE part of the larger group Archosauria ("ruling lizards"), and so more closely related to crocs and dinos (and birds) than to any other reptiles.

A second and IMHO a minor point: as another reviewer mentions, this book, when touching upon specifically human evolution, claims that the "ancestors of early humans" (i.e., ancient bipedal hominids) are "descended from apes." Some may argue. I wouldn't -- at least, not on that particular point. Our last common ancestor with the (other) great apes (the rest of family Hominidae) was most surely conservative in body form, and likely strongly resembled our living relatives. (And an aside: to say these hominids were "descended from apes" ... well, they WERE apes, as are modern humans. What else would they be?)

Altogether, though, great for the young (but not the very young), and worth the buy.

Summary of Life on Earth: The Story of Evolution

There are millions of different kinds of plants and animals living on the earth. Many millions more lived here in the past. Where did they all come from? Why have some become extinct and others lived on?

In this remarkable book for children, Steve Jenkins explores the fascinating history of life on earth and the awe-inspiring story of evolution, Charles Darwin?s great contribution to modern science.

Philosophy Books

Book Subjects
Most talked about in Philosophy Books
Q is for Question: An ABC of Philosophy ImageQ is for Question: An ABC of Philosophy
by Tiffany Poirier
Our Street Books; Published: 2009-05-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.93
Price in other shops: $19.95
Albert: v. 2 ImageAlbert: v. 2
by Lani Yamamoto
Frances Lincoln Childrens Books; Published: 2005-04-01; Hardcover; Book
Albert Edition 1. ImageAlbert Edition 1.
by Lani Yamamoto
Sleeping Bear Press; Published: 2004-09-08; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $3.19
Price in other shops: $10.95
The Philosopher's Club ImageThe Philosopher's Club
by Christopher Phillips
Tricycle Pr; Published: 2001-03; Paperback; Book
Truth: Ethics for Your Child (Black & White Edition) ImageTruth: Ethics for Your Child (Black & White Edition)
by Zak Maymin Ph.D.
CreateSpace; Published: 2010-12-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.54
Price in other shops: $6.43
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have a Dream Speech in Translation: What It Really Means (Fact Finders Kids' Translations) ImageDr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s I Have a Dream Speech in Translation: What It Really Means (Fact Finders Kids' Translations)
by Leslie J. Holland
Fact Finders; Published: 2009-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $21.28
Price in other shops: $26.65
Courteous Kids Taking Turns ImageCourteous Kids Taking Turns
by Janine Amos
Gareth Stevens Publishing; Published: 2002-07; Library Binding; Book
Price in other shops: $23.93
Thank You Oceans (Attitude of Gratitude) ImageThank You Oceans (Attitude of Gratitude)
by Bobbie Kalman
Crabtree Pub Co; Published: 2000-10; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops: $6.95
Balance Gained Through Poetry ImageBalance Gained Through Poetry
by Megan Miller
IUniverse; Published: 2002-11-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.40
Price in other shops: $13.95
Confucius: Golden Rule, The ImageConfucius: Golden Rule, The
by Russell Freedman
Arthur A. Levine Books; Published: 2002-09-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $38.90
Similar Books and other products
Parenting Beyond Belief: On Raising Ethical, Caring Kids Without Religion ImageParenting Beyond Belief: On Raising Ethical, Caring Kids Without Religion
AMACOM; Published: 2007-04-25; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.84
Price in other shops: $17.95
Maybe Yes, Maybe No: A Guide for Young Skeptics ImageMaybe Yes, Maybe No: A Guide for Young Skeptics
by Dan Barker
Prometheus Books; Published: 1990-12; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.30
Price in other shops: $17.98
Raising Freethinkers: A Practical Guide for Parenting Beyond Belief ImageRaising Freethinkers: A Practical Guide for Parenting Beyond Belief
by Dale McGowan, Molleen Matsumura, Amanda Metskas, Jan Devor
AMACOM; Published: 2009-02-11; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.98
Price in other shops: $17.95
One World, Many Religions: The Ways We Worship ImageOne World, Many Religions: The Ways We Worship
by Mary Pope Osborne
Knopf Books for Young Readers; Knopf Books for Young Readers; Published: 1996-10-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $12.23
Price in other shops: $19.95
Darwin and Evolution for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities (For Kids series) ImageDarwin and Evolution for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities (For Kids series)
by Kristan Lawson
Chicago Review Press; Published: 2003-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops: $16.95
Mammals Who Morph: The Universe Tells Our Evolution Story (Sharing Nature With Children Book) (Sharing Nature with Children Books) ImageMammals Who Morph: The Universe Tells Our Evolution Story (Sharing Nature With Children Book) (Sharing Nature with Children Books)
by Jennifer Morgan
Dawn Pubns; Published: 2006-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.60
Price in other shops: $9.95
From Lava to Life: The Universe Tells Our Earth Story ImageFrom Lava to Life: The Universe Tells Our Earth Story
by Jennifer Morgan
Buns of Maui; Dawn Publications (CA); Published: 2003-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops: $9.95
Born With a Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story : Book 1 (Sharing Nature With Children Book) ImageBorn With a Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story : Book 1 (Sharing Nature With Children Book)
by Jennifer Morgan, Dana Lynne Andersen
Dawn Pubns; Published: 2002-02-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.13
Price in other shops: $9.95
Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be ImageEvolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be
by Daniel Loxton
Books; Kids Can Press, Ltd.; Published: 2010-02-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $12.07
Price in other shops: $18.95
Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story ImageOur Family Tree: An Evolution Story
by Lisa Westberg Peters, Lauren Stringer
Harcourt Children's Books; Published: 2003-04-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $9.65
Price in other shops: $17.00