Darwin’s Tree of Life is an accurate yet appealing introduction to the basics of evolution for readers 8–12 years old. Many key concepts – such as deep time, natural selection, and the common ancestry of all species – are highlighted throughout the book. A two-page glossary provides understandable definitions of various unfamiliar terms; there is also a brief but useful index. While scientifically literate parents will love Michael Bright’s content, children will adore Margaux Carpentier’s amazing artwork on every page. The beauty of the illustrations alone is enough to keep the kids turning pages all the way to the last page, inhabited by Homo sapiens, although readers are admonished, “The Tree of Life does not stop growing.” Nor should their wonder.
The overall approach of the book is to present a number of branches on the evolutionary tree of life, explaining what makes them unique with a memorable heading...
University of California Press