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Describes, using evidence found in fossil layers, how one-cell organisms evolved into complex plants and animals.

User Reviews about Evolution (Let's Read and Find Out Science Books)

It is sad that Joanna Cole's "Evolution: The Story of How Life Developed on Earth" is out-of-print. It is tragic since the book is so well done and at the same time it fills such a badly needed gap. The gap that needs filling is of course the lack of materials on evolution for young people. Any book store or library is bound to have children's books that tell the origins of life from a religious perspective. It's a different story when it comes to the availability of books on evolution. In any case, young people are familiar with fossils, so that's where the author begins. From there, the book explains how simple cells eventually changed into humans. Cole goes into detail when explaining the jump between fish to amphibians. Complex constructs are broken down into easily digestible ideas. The book is very well written for a third grade reading level. While the book moves quickly, some pages feature additional material that elaborate the technical aspects of the process. While the text is strong, it is Aliki's illustrations that make this a great book. Since the book does not feature photographs, it has that warm and fuzzy feel that can only come from an illustrated picture book. The work of Richard Dawkins will impress upon anyone that the field of evolutionary biology is always changing. That written, Cole's 1987 book is still accurate. While out-of-print, multiple used copies are available through Amazon's marketplace sellers for very reasonable prices. -- a strong evolutionary book for the primary years

We have found that the typical interest in dinosaurs has a way of branching into territories less well-charted for the preschool and elementary set: extinction and death (and onto religious beliefs), geology and evolution (and onto astronomy and earth science), to name a few. This book, along with Life Story by Virginia Lee Burton, Time Tunnel by Arthur John L'Hommedieu, and From Dinosaurs to Dodos by Don Lessem has helped us learn and teach about evolution in a way our son understands and we enjoy. Better yet, these are all titles that remain useful across the early years, suitable for learners at many levels of knowledge. -- A great introduction to evolution for kids as young as 4