Life: The First Four Billion Years

This beautifully illustrated chapter book takes young readers, ages 4-11, on an ambitious and accessible journey through the entire history of life on Earth. Beginning with the Big Bang, it covers the formation of the planet, the emergence of early life in the oceans, the age of dinosaurs, ice ages, and the eventual rise of mammals, leading up to humans. Jenkins' narrative style is engaging and clear, breaking down complex scientific concepts into digestible information, while Baker-Smith's award-winning artwork brings each epoch vividly to life. It's an excellent resource for sparking curiosity about science, evolution, and natural history, perfect for both read-aloud sessions with younger children and independent exploration by older elementary students.

Award-winning children’s book creators Martin Jenkins and Grahame Baker-Smith team up for a large-scale look at our planet, from the big bang to the dinosaurs and beyond. Before humans took their first steps, there were billions of years of vibrant and varied life-forms on Earth. Discover the story of our planet during this time, from the formation of the universe to the first mammals and all the incredible life that flourished in between. Covering ice ages and fossils, the first life in the sea and on land, the time of the dinosaurs, and the rise of mammals, Martin Jenkins navigates through millennia of prehistory in a style both enthralling and accessible. With superb illustrations from Kate Greenaway Medal winner Grahame Baker-Smith, this is a captivating journey through the life of our planet before we called it ours.