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Our Natural World
Grow: Secrets of Our DNA
Discover the wonders of DNA in a fascinating new book from the creators of the award-winning Tiny Creatures and Many.
Earth is full of life! All living things grow—plants, animals, and human beings. The way they grow, whether it be fast or slow, enormous or not so big, helps them survive. But growing is also about change: when people grow, they become more complicated and able to do more things. And they don’t have to think about it, because bodies come with instructions, or DNA. With simple, engaging language and expressive, child-friendly illustrations, Nicola Davies and Emily Sutton provide an introduction to genetic code and how it relates to families to make us all both wonderfully unique and wholly connected to every living thing on earth.
Earth is full of life! All living things grow—plants, animals, and human beings. The way they grow, whether it be fast or slow, enormous or not so big, helps them survive. But growing is also about change: when people grow, they become more complicated and able to do more things. And they don’t have to think about it, because bodies come with instructions, or DNA. With simple, engaging language and expressive, child-friendly illustrations, Nicola Davies and Emily Sutton provide an introduction to genetic code and how it relates to families to make us all both wonderfully unique and wholly connected to every living thing on earth.
34 pages, Hardcover
Published September 1, 2020
3 people are currently reading
216 people want to read
About the author
Nicola Davies
172 books185 followers"I was very small when I saw my first dolphin," says zoologist Nicola Davies, recalling a seminal visit with her father to a dolphin show at the zoo. Enchanted at the sight of what she called the "big fish" jumping so high and swimming so fast, she determined right then that she would meet the amazing creatures again "in the wild, where they belonged." And indeed she did--as part of a pair of scientific expeditions, one to Newfoundland at the age of eighteen and another to the Indian Ocean a year later. In WILD ABOUT DOLPHINS, Nicola Davies describes her voyages in a firsthand account filled with fascinating facts and captivating photographs of seven species of dolphins in action.
Nicola Davies's seemingly boundless enthusiasm for studying animals of all kinds has led her around the world--and fortunately for young readers, she is just as excited about sharing her interests through picture books. The zoologist's latest offering puts a decidedly quirky twist on her years of experience: POOP: A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE UNMENTIONABLE is a fun, fact-filled guide to the fascinating world of poop across species. "As a zoologist, you are never far from poop!" the writer explains. "I've baked goose poop in an oven with my dinner, looked at bat poop under the microscope, and had my T-shirt stained pink with blue-whale poop. I was obviously fated to write this book."
The exceptional combination of Nicola Davies's zoological expertise and her first-rate children's writing is apparent in her remarkable catalog of award-winning titles. Her first book with Candlewick Press, BIG BLUE WHALE, was hailed by American Bookseller as an "artfully composed study" offering "language exactly appropriate for four- to seven-year-olds and precisely the right amount of information." In ONE TINY TURTLE, Nicola Davies's clear, compelling narrative follows the life of the rarely seen loggerhead turtle, which swims the oceans for thirty years and for thousands of miles in search of food, only to return, uncannily, to lay her eggs on the very beach where she was born. The author's next book, BAT LOVES THE NIGHT, is a tenderly written ode to a much-misunderstood flying mammal, the pipistrelle bat, while SURPRISING SHARKS--winner of a BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Honor Award--contains unexpected facts about another one of the planet's most infamous animals.
When she is not off on scientific expeditions, Nicola Davies lives in a cottage in Somerset, England, where she is lucky enough to have pipistrelle bats nesting in her roof.
Nicola Davies's seemingly boundless enthusiasm for studying animals of all kinds has led her around the world--and fortunately for young readers, she is just as excited about sharing her interests through picture books. The zoologist's latest offering puts a decidedly quirky twist on her years of experience: POOP: A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE UNMENTIONABLE is a fun, fact-filled guide to the fascinating world of poop across species. "As a zoologist, you are never far from poop!" the writer explains. "I've baked goose poop in an oven with my dinner, looked at bat poop under the microscope, and had my T-shirt stained pink with blue-whale poop. I was obviously fated to write this book."
The exceptional combination of Nicola Davies's zoological expertise and her first-rate children's writing is apparent in her remarkable catalog of award-winning titles. Her first book with Candlewick Press, BIG BLUE WHALE, was hailed by American Bookseller as an "artfully composed study" offering "language exactly appropriate for four- to seven-year-olds and precisely the right amount of information." In ONE TINY TURTLE, Nicola Davies's clear, compelling narrative follows the life of the rarely seen loggerhead turtle, which swims the oceans for thirty years and for thousands of miles in search of food, only to return, uncannily, to lay her eggs on the very beach where she was born. The author's next book, BAT LOVES THE NIGHT, is a tenderly written ode to a much-misunderstood flying mammal, the pipistrelle bat, while SURPRISING SHARKS--winner of a BOSTON GLOBE-HORN BOOK Honor Award--contains unexpected facts about another one of the planet's most infamous animals.
When she is not off on scientific expeditions, Nicola Davies lives in a cottage in Somerset, England, where she is lucky enough to have pipistrelle bats nesting in her roof.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
May 27, 2022
I sometimes find science subjects a bit dry and boring but this did a good job of giving a simple explanation about what DNA is and how it works. I love Emily Sutton's illustrations and there are some really lovely illustrations of animals. Some pages are packed full of different species, I know my animal loving children would have loved to have used these to spot and name the ones they knew.
April 6, 2022
LOVED this! Thank you to Davies & Sutton for tackling what can feel like a complex topic to teach our young students. This would make for a great INTERACTIVE READ ALOUD in k-3 (and even higher as an intro to more complex texts on the topic).
The WRITING AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE YOUNG STUDENT FRIENDLY and the STRUCTURE IS BRILLIANTLY GEARED TOWARDS THIS AUDIENCE. The writing is clear and evenly paced. Davies & Sutton begin the conversation by explaining three concepts - 1) "the way living things grow helps them to survive in different places" with less familiar examples (e.g., a bristlecone pine can take up to 40 years to grow to the size of a pencil - in harsh mountain conditions) 2) "how much living things grow is important" depending on their habitat 3) growing isn't just about time and size--it's also about changing. This last point leads into a two-page layout of a child growing over time and the following fact -- "From the time you were the size of a dot, your body has been following a set of instructions. These instructions aren't written in words but in a code. The code is made from deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA." ("Deoxy..." is as big as the technical vocab gets;).
When Davies & Sutton move into explaining DNA, the layout, design, chunks of info are again very kid-friendly. Two page layouts with manageable chunks of information. (I actually understand DNA better having read this!!!) Not a lot of technical text--just enough for our young students to take a bite and chew, savor and think. They learn very interesting facts like that "four genes help to shape a nose" and it takes "at least sixteen genes to give eyes their color." There's a brief discussion of inheriting genetic code from biological parents and then comparisons of our code to plants, animals, and every other human. BEAUTIFUL!!!!
PAIR THIS TEXT WITH The Secret Code Inside You: All About Your DNA by LaRocca & Salerno
The WRITING AND ILLUSTRATIONS ARE YOUNG STUDENT FRIENDLY and the STRUCTURE IS BRILLIANTLY GEARED TOWARDS THIS AUDIENCE. The writing is clear and evenly paced. Davies & Sutton begin the conversation by explaining three concepts - 1) "the way living things grow helps them to survive in different places" with less familiar examples (e.g., a bristlecone pine can take up to 40 years to grow to the size of a pencil - in harsh mountain conditions) 2) "how much living things grow is important" depending on their habitat 3) growing isn't just about time and size--it's also about changing. This last point leads into a two-page layout of a child growing over time and the following fact -- "From the time you were the size of a dot, your body has been following a set of instructions. These instructions aren't written in words but in a code. The code is made from deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA." ("Deoxy..." is as big as the technical vocab gets;).
When Davies & Sutton move into explaining DNA, the layout, design, chunks of info are again very kid-friendly. Two page layouts with manageable chunks of information. (I actually understand DNA better having read this!!!) Not a lot of technical text--just enough for our young students to take a bite and chew, savor and think. They learn very interesting facts like that "four genes help to shape a nose" and it takes "at least sixteen genes to give eyes their color." There's a brief discussion of inheriting genetic code from biological parents and then comparisons of our code to plants, animals, and every other human. BEAUTIFUL!!!!
PAIR THIS TEXT WITH The Secret Code Inside You: All About Your DNA by LaRocca & Salerno
September 22, 2020
This book has a somewhat uneven flow, but the illustrations are lovely, and the text addresses lots of scientific facts about DNA at a child-friendly level. I enjoyed this, and particularly appreciated the elements about prenatal development and how our DNA has always been part of us, even when we were smaller than a dot. The pages about plants, animals, and other creatures are educational, but jump from topic to topic, while the part of about human life unfolds naturally.
September 15, 2020
This was a 3.5 for me, and I would highly recommend it for inclusion in a science class because the text and images evoke a sense of wonder about the topic. DNA might seem to be an odd choice for a topic for a children's picture book, but the easy-to-understand text and the watercolor illustrations make this book relatable and accessible, particularly since there is an emphasis on how humans and other living things grow. After discussing how various plants and animals are suited to their environment in size and adaptation and how they may change, the text addresses how bodies follow "a set of instructions" (unpaged) written in the DNA code. An illustration even shows the four different types of DNA building blocks and the many different ways those blocks or patterns can be organized. Thus, there are many different genes that determine eye color, hair color and texture, and nose shape, for instance. What I loved the most about this exuberant exploration of the topic is the amazing conclusion that while each of us consists of our own unique DNA, our genetic code connects us to every living thing. Back matter includes a discussion of how someone grows. As I've said before about picture books on challenging topics, I would have loved to have had this one, a nifty introduction to the subject, as a supplement in some of my science classes.
July 12, 2023
A good way to explain DNA, genes, etc to children!
October 7, 2020
Richie’s Picks: GROW: SECRETS OF OUR DNA by Nicola Davies and Emily Sutton, ill., Candlewick, September 2020, 40p., ISBN: 978-1-5362-1272-3
“Everything grows and grows
Sisters do
Brothers too
Everything grows.
Food on the farm, fish in the sea
Birds in the air, leaves on the tree
Everything grows, anyone knows
That’s how it goes
Yes, everything grows and grows”
-- Raffi (1987)
“Growing isn’t only about time and size. It’s also about change.
You grew from a tiny blob, smaller than a dot.
But your body didn’t just get bigger. It changed shape. It became more complicated and capable of doing more things.
Without even thinking about it or telling your body what to do, you will go on growing and changing as you become an adult. From the time you were the size of a dot, your body has been following a set of instructions.
These instructions aren’t written in words but in a code. The code is made from deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA.”
I am awestruck by the age-appropriate manner in which author Nicola Davies explains how everything that grows is guided by instructions that are part of nearly every cell in our bodies.
Except for identical twins, everyone has a unique set of instructions. Nevertheless, our unique DNA codes are extremely similar to those of our family members and quite similar to those of every other human on the planet. They are also somewhat similar to the codes inside chimpanzees, our closest animal relatives, and progressively less similar to dog codes, fish codes, and plant codes. But we share a bit of our codes with every living thing on Earth.
Emily Sutton’s vivid, child-friendly watercolor illustrations depict a joyful variety of people, animals, and plants. They also show human growth progressions. There are some fascinating sidebar illustrations. One series illuminates some unusual growth extremes, like bristlecone pines that take 40 years to grow to the size of a pencil, but can live 400 years. And turquoise killifish hatch in puddles and lay eggs just fifteen days after hatching, living an entire lifetime before their puddles dry up.
Together, the author and illustrator do a stellar job of showing and explaining about the spiral ladder-like strands of DNA, and how “the pattern of the steps creates the coded instructions for building living things.”
I was delighted to discover a wonderful YouTube video of the author reading the book--don’t miss it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS9bq...
My generation didn’t know much of anything about DNA until at least junior high. GROW: SECRETS OF OUR DNA is a captivating informational picture book that makes a fundamental concept of biology readily accessible to elementary school students.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
“Everything grows and grows
Sisters do
Brothers too
Everything grows.
Food on the farm, fish in the sea
Birds in the air, leaves on the tree
Everything grows, anyone knows
That’s how it goes
Yes, everything grows and grows”
-- Raffi (1987)
“Growing isn’t only about time and size. It’s also about change.
You grew from a tiny blob, smaller than a dot.
But your body didn’t just get bigger. It changed shape. It became more complicated and capable of doing more things.
Without even thinking about it or telling your body what to do, you will go on growing and changing as you become an adult. From the time you were the size of a dot, your body has been following a set of instructions.
These instructions aren’t written in words but in a code. The code is made from deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA.”
I am awestruck by the age-appropriate manner in which author Nicola Davies explains how everything that grows is guided by instructions that are part of nearly every cell in our bodies.
Except for identical twins, everyone has a unique set of instructions. Nevertheless, our unique DNA codes are extremely similar to those of our family members and quite similar to those of every other human on the planet. They are also somewhat similar to the codes inside chimpanzees, our closest animal relatives, and progressively less similar to dog codes, fish codes, and plant codes. But we share a bit of our codes with every living thing on Earth.
Emily Sutton’s vivid, child-friendly watercolor illustrations depict a joyful variety of people, animals, and plants. They also show human growth progressions. There are some fascinating sidebar illustrations. One series illuminates some unusual growth extremes, like bristlecone pines that take 40 years to grow to the size of a pencil, but can live 400 years. And turquoise killifish hatch in puddles and lay eggs just fifteen days after hatching, living an entire lifetime before their puddles dry up.
Together, the author and illustrator do a stellar job of showing and explaining about the spiral ladder-like strands of DNA, and how “the pattern of the steps creates the coded instructions for building living things.”
I was delighted to discover a wonderful YouTube video of the author reading the book--don’t miss it! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS9bq...
My generation didn’t know much of anything about DNA until at least junior high. GROW: SECRETS OF OUR DNA is a captivating informational picture book that makes a fundamental concept of biology readily accessible to elementary school students.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
September 17, 2020
Learning about one's DNA seems more popular today thanks to businesses like Ancestry.com and so much talk about where one is from. This is one gorgeous book, just perfect for beginning to know about DNA. Nicola Davies revolves her explanation of DNA around different things growing, thus the title. As she explains, all things grow and in vastly different ways because of their environment. I loved seeing the words about bristlecone pines that live in harsh mountain conditions. I've seen some of these trees which grow high in our Colorado Mountains. They adapt and take "forty years to grow the size of a pencil. They can live for more than 4,000 years." Change in growing means seeds do not get bigger, they grow (change) into plants.
The book includes the spiraling ladder of DNA with its thousands of steps, uses the term "code of instructions" that creates all living things, and creates their differences.
The explanation of DNA is clearly worded and illustrated. Emily Sutton has created pictures of so many examples of living things as Nicola explains the way DNA works. For example, a family with mom and dad and five children are shown on a picnic, all similar but not exact copies because "the exact mixture of instructions that you get from your biological parents" is not the same for each child, unless you're an identical twin! The double-page spread of many living things is special to see and to read that while we are all so different, we do share some parts of our genetic code.
There is an Afterword with a specific explanation of how a human grows, from one tiny cells but with growth, all kinds of cells begin to form, in fact, 200 different kinds! It's a gorgeous book that will add to a fascinating explanation of what DNA is and how it works.
Thanks to Candlewick Press for the copy!
The book includes the spiraling ladder of DNA with its thousands of steps, uses the term "code of instructions" that creates all living things, and creates their differences.
The explanation of DNA is clearly worded and illustrated. Emily Sutton has created pictures of so many examples of living things as Nicola explains the way DNA works. For example, a family with mom and dad and five children are shown on a picnic, all similar but not exact copies because "the exact mixture of instructions that you get from your biological parents" is not the same for each child, unless you're an identical twin! The double-page spread of many living things is special to see and to read that while we are all so different, we do share some parts of our genetic code.
There is an Afterword with a specific explanation of how a human grows, from one tiny cells but with growth, all kinds of cells begin to form, in fact, 200 different kinds! It's a gorgeous book that will add to a fascinating explanation of what DNA is and how it works.
Thanks to Candlewick Press for the copy!
January 30, 2021
I simply love how picture books have entered the realm of the complex to introduce children to thoughts and ideas, scientific facts, and historic events that are normally reserved for older students or adults. The complexity of facts are now broken down into bits that the younger mind can grasp planting the seed that will germinate when presented the opportunity to grown into the more informed idea.
Who would have thought to introduce children to a study of DNA? While simplified, there is a grand nugget of information in this gently told study of life on Earth and its connection through the eons of time, the similarity, and diversity of all life.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.
Who would have thought to introduce children to a study of DNA? While simplified, there is a grand nugget of information in this gently told study of life on Earth and its connection through the eons of time, the similarity, and diversity of all life.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine, alone and are freely given.
March 24, 2023
A fabulously book, Grow - the secrets of our DNA, is a beautiful and lavishly illustrated read through the journey of the code that makes us, and all other living things, themselves. An introductory read for young children this book is ideal for opening up discussion about diversity and expanding a child’s understanding of the world. With so many detailed illustrations it is an invitation to explore and observe. The text is small and sparse in the right measure and never condescending. Davies and Sutton are an incredible team in bringing children the complex science through a very age-appropriate and delightful book. Highly recommend for curious children and also in schools in science to study animals, diversity and biology.
Recommended ages 5-10
Recommended ages 5-10
September 11, 2020
Nicola Davies and Emily Sutton are a superb duo who produce beautiful books and this is another delightful read. Grow is a celebration of life’s big family on earth and explores how and why things grow.
Everything that is living on earth grows and how things grow helps them to survive in their environment. Not everything grows at the same speed, for example there are flowers that grow in just 10 days, fish that grow to the size of your little finger and lay eggs in 15 days, trees that take years to grow just a small amount and live for over 4,000 years, clams that take 500 years to grow to the size of your palm. The world is full of amazing growing things. Some are even more amazing in that they grow into something new - seeds grow into fruits and vegetables, caterpillars grow into butterflies.
The first part of the book details things that grow and the reasons behind their growth. The second part of the book explores DNA and how DNA makes us all unique. As humans we all have similar body parts but everything about us is unique. DNA is the reason why we have noses, hair, and eyes that all appear a certain way and why we all have unique fingerprints. Our DNA genetic code is amazing, and Davies and Sutton break down a very tricky concept and simplify it for young children.
The simple explanations and story telling open up the world of DNA to younger readers. The artwork and illustrations by Emily Sutton, is as always, first-class and accompanying captions provide clear and concise explanations. A great Afterword explains how all humans start off as a single cell and then grow to 26 billion cells and then grow to a number of cells that is so big it’s hard to describe.
A fabulous book to introduce the concept of DNA and growth to younger readers.
Recommended for 5+.
Everything that is living on earth grows and how things grow helps them to survive in their environment. Not everything grows at the same speed, for example there are flowers that grow in just 10 days, fish that grow to the size of your little finger and lay eggs in 15 days, trees that take years to grow just a small amount and live for over 4,000 years, clams that take 500 years to grow to the size of your palm. The world is full of amazing growing things. Some are even more amazing in that they grow into something new - seeds grow into fruits and vegetables, caterpillars grow into butterflies.
The first part of the book details things that grow and the reasons behind their growth. The second part of the book explores DNA and how DNA makes us all unique. As humans we all have similar body parts but everything about us is unique. DNA is the reason why we have noses, hair, and eyes that all appear a certain way and why we all have unique fingerprints. Our DNA genetic code is amazing, and Davies and Sutton break down a very tricky concept and simplify it for young children.
The simple explanations and story telling open up the world of DNA to younger readers. The artwork and illustrations by Emily Sutton, is as always, first-class and accompanying captions provide clear and concise explanations. A great Afterword explains how all humans start off as a single cell and then grow to 26 billion cells and then grow to a number of cells that is so big it’s hard to describe.
A fabulous book to introduce the concept of DNA and growth to younger readers.
Recommended for 5+.
January 14, 2021
Wonderful introduction to an obviously complex subject. I would have loved a glossary in the back.
September 9, 2020
Grow: The Secrets of Our DNA is a gem of a book which introduces young children to the magic of DNA, genes, heredity etc by showing how all living things grow (some fast, others slow): plants, animals and humans. Did you know a quahog takes 100+ years to reach palm size? But then growing is not just about a change in size and shape.
In this book there is a DNA spiral to show steps, pairs and genes that determine our nose shape, hair color and texture, eye color, height etc. It further explains how 1/2 comes from each biological parent and how differences occur among siblings, even those with the same parents, creating a unique, yet similar genetic code to other family members. There is even an "Afterward" titled: "How Did You Grow?"
Such a wonderful intro for children with vivid, colorful illustrations; some are light and fun as well making a serious book fun to read and absorb.
In this book there is a DNA spiral to show steps, pairs and genes that determine our nose shape, hair color and texture, eye color, height etc. It further explains how 1/2 comes from each biological parent and how differences occur among siblings, even those with the same parents, creating a unique, yet similar genetic code to other family members. There is even an "Afterward" titled: "How Did You Grow?"
Such a wonderful intro for children with vivid, colorful illustrations; some are light and fun as well making a serious book fun to read and absorb.
August 6, 2020
An engaging and awesome way to introduce kids to deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA! The main text discusses this amazing language of life, while smaller text introduces readers to creatures and organisms that all grow in different ways. Did you know about bristlecone pines that take 40 years to grow to the size of a pencil and live for more than 4,000 years? Delicately detailed illustrations enhance the book! A beautiful read!
July 31, 2021
"Our DNA connects us with one another and to our ancestors, back through time to the very start of life on earth..."
An introduction to how we grow and the instructions that make us do so. Would be a useful addition to a household library, and the pictures are themselves a reason to have a copy (gorgeous).
An introduction to how we grow and the instructions that make us do so. Would be a useful addition to a household library, and the pictures are themselves a reason to have a copy (gorgeous).
August 19, 2025
British author/illustrator team Nicola Davies and Emily Sutton, whose previous picture book collaborations include
Tiny Creatures: The World of Microbes
and
Many: The Diversity of Life on Earth
, here turn to the topic of DNA, and the genetic instructions that make us who we are. Discussing how things grow, both in terms of size and in terms of shape—i.e., transformations ranging from butterfly metamorphosis to human puberty—the narrative explains how the pattern of growth for any living creature is determined by the genetic instructions contained in its DNA. Offering a brief description of what DNA is and how it is structured, the book proceeds to a discussion of how our genetic makeup ties humanity to various life forms, in closer (chimpanzees) and more distant (roses) relationships. In the end, the book concludes, for all of its diversity, all of life is written using this same languages...
I enjoyed Grow: Secrets of Our DNA immensely, and credit Davies and Sutton with creating another informative and engaging work of science for the picture book set! Here in particular, the topic is a very complex one, but the simple, clear text manages to make it comprehensible for children, while the accompanying artwork, done in watercolor, depicts the beauty that results from this microscopic biological script that is directing all of life. I enjoyed all of the visuals from Sutton, but particularly liked the scenes showing crowds and people and then of animals, as I think children will enjoy poring over those pages, picking out all of the individuals, while also appreciating the whole. Apparently this team have produced two other titles together, not in my public library's collection—I will have to see if I can track them down through interlibrary loan! In the meantime, this is one I would recommend to young scientists, to children curious about genetics and DNA, and to anyone looking for a good introduction to those topics for the young.
I enjoyed Grow: Secrets of Our DNA immensely, and credit Davies and Sutton with creating another informative and engaging work of science for the picture book set! Here in particular, the topic is a very complex one, but the simple, clear text manages to make it comprehensible for children, while the accompanying artwork, done in watercolor, depicts the beauty that results from this microscopic biological script that is directing all of life. I enjoyed all of the visuals from Sutton, but particularly liked the scenes showing crowds and people and then of animals, as I think children will enjoy poring over those pages, picking out all of the individuals, while also appreciating the whole. Apparently this team have produced two other titles together, not in my public library's collection—I will have to see if I can track them down through interlibrary loan! In the meantime, this is one I would recommend to young scientists, to children curious about genetics and DNA, and to anyone looking for a good introduction to those topics for the young.
October 21, 2020
Take a look at living things and their DNA in this informative picture book. Living things grow in different habitats, some grow quickly and others very slowly. Some grow to only a small size while others become enormous. It is each creature’s DNA that serves as a pattern how it will grow, from nose shapes to eye color. Your DNA also shows who is related to whom and what animals are closest to us genetically. DNA connects us to our ancestors and to other creatures in our world. It is both unique and universal.
Davies presents this scientific information in an engaging mix of details about DNA and how it works and also a marveling at the role that DNA plays in our lives and throughout the generations. That tone makes this book a great pick to share aloud with a classroom that is exploring these concepts. It is a very readable and delightful nonfiction picture book.
The art by Sutton is marvelous, detailed and interesting. From DNA charts and double helix to dinosaur skeletons and all sorts of animals from around the world, the illustrations invite exploration. They also depict a wide variety of people on the pages, diverse and of all ages.
A top notch nonfiction picture book that shows how we are all connected. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
Davies presents this scientific information in an engaging mix of details about DNA and how it works and also a marveling at the role that DNA plays in our lives and throughout the generations. That tone makes this book a great pick to share aloud with a classroom that is exploring these concepts. It is a very readable and delightful nonfiction picture book.
The art by Sutton is marvelous, detailed and interesting. From DNA charts and double helix to dinosaur skeletons and all sorts of animals from around the world, the illustrations invite exploration. They also depict a wide variety of people on the pages, diverse and of all ages.
A top notch nonfiction picture book that shows how we are all connected. Appropriate for ages 4-6.
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September 15, 2021This fun but educational book would definitely be one that I would have on my shelf for an upper elementary classroom. This book explains the basic function and structure of our genetic system and our DNA in a way that I think that kids would understand. This is not so much story form as it is telling the information but I think that Nicola Davies does a great job of breaking it down and giving information while also throwing some facts in there that would maybe make the kids giggle or get their attention.
The illustrations in this book are very mature and detailed which I think fits perfectly because this is a mature topic. There is a lot of details on each page and I really liked how she included a close-up picture of the structure of DNA so you can see what one strand looks like. It's crazy to think that that is in your body sometimes! I also really like the color scheme it was lots of bright colors with a more muted hue which I think fit perfectly with the overall theme of the book.
This would definitely be a book that I would have in my library but would also read aloud to the class before a unit on genetics to kind of get the ball rolling and lay out a foundation. I could also use this book to refer back to throughout the unit as a refresher.
The illustrations in this book are very mature and detailed which I think fits perfectly because this is a mature topic. There is a lot of details on each page and I really liked how she included a close-up picture of the structure of DNA so you can see what one strand looks like. It's crazy to think that that is in your body sometimes! I also really like the color scheme it was lots of bright colors with a more muted hue which I think fit perfectly with the overall theme of the book.
This would definitely be a book that I would have in my library but would also read aloud to the class before a unit on genetics to kind of get the ball rolling and lay out a foundation. I could also use this book to refer back to throughout the unit as a refresher.
October 6, 2020
Knowledge is magnificent and this book is armed to the gills with it. From the beautifully drawn helices on the end pages to the realistic illustrations that bring life to the fascinating world of DNA, this book is a STEAM book for all ages. One of the best takeaways from this book is that although our DNA makes us unique, the fact that uniqueness is a constant for all living creations, only proves that we are all just one giant community. All the same, yet all different. All things grow, all things change.
The cover drew me right in. The illustrator’s use of a variety of mediums, such as pastels, colored pencils, ink and watercolors are a beautiful blend of the simple and the complex. Although the illustrations are cartoon-like, they craftily capture important details using design elements such as texture, color and line. The illustrations wonderfully carry the science of the subject matter. The characters are diverse, the information is highly accessible and interesting and will surely kick off a larger quest for knowledge. I highly recommend this wonderful introduction to life science.
The cover drew me right in. The illustrator’s use of a variety of mediums, such as pastels, colored pencils, ink and watercolors are a beautiful blend of the simple and the complex. Although the illustrations are cartoon-like, they craftily capture important details using design elements such as texture, color and line. The illustrations wonderfully carry the science of the subject matter. The characters are diverse, the information is highly accessible and interesting and will surely kick off a larger quest for knowledge. I highly recommend this wonderful introduction to life science.
January 3, 2021
One of the finest explanations of DNA I have ever read for young readers.
Using simplest of terms and many analogies, Davies breaks down what DNA is to its simplest of terms and why it is important. This non-fiction title reads like a storybook. Kids will begin to understand the relevance of why DNA is mentioned so often on television (commercials for Ancestry.com and on news and cop shows). Answering no more than just the basics will satisfy the curiosity of this age group. The comparisons are striking in their accuracy.
Watercolor illustrations by Emily Sutton have a bit of a retro feel to them, lending credibility. Many are captioned (set in italics) in the early pages of the book. The colors are lively and the subjects full of action. Diversity is evident in the illustrations of people and in human body parts (specifically, noses, eyes, and hair are shown in different shapes, colors, and textures).
Highly Recommended for PreS-grade 3.
Using simplest of terms and many analogies, Davies breaks down what DNA is to its simplest of terms and why it is important. This non-fiction title reads like a storybook. Kids will begin to understand the relevance of why DNA is mentioned so often on television (commercials for Ancestry.com and on news and cop shows). Answering no more than just the basics will satisfy the curiosity of this age group. The comparisons are striking in their accuracy.
Watercolor illustrations by Emily Sutton have a bit of a retro feel to them, lending credibility. Many are captioned (set in italics) in the early pages of the book. The colors are lively and the subjects full of action. Diversity is evident in the illustrations of people and in human body parts (specifically, noses, eyes, and hair are shown in different shapes, colors, and textures).
Highly Recommended for PreS-grade 3.
January 26, 2022
The world we live in is full of life. From fish that swim in the sea, plants that grow from the ground, and humans that walk the earth, we all experience growth. But how do we grow? This story is a simple explanation of DNA and the genetic instructions that our body’s come with. The author and illustrator take the reader on a journey to explain how our genetic codes make us all uniquely different yet related to every living thing on earth.
I thought this book was a great way to introduce a really complex topic to young learners. The way the book was worded and illustrated made it easy for young learners to begin to grasp the concept of DNA. Learning about science may be tough for some learners, but a book like this makes the topic more obtainable and understandable. This would be a great book to use in a science unit. This would also be a great book to use on a unit talking about informative writing.
I thought this book was a great way to introduce a really complex topic to young learners. The way the book was worded and illustrated made it easy for young learners to begin to grasp the concept of DNA. Learning about science may be tough for some learners, but a book like this makes the topic more obtainable and understandable. This would be a great book to use in a science unit. This would also be a great book to use on a unit talking about informative writing.
January 29, 2023
This book is about DNA and how it is within every living organism and how it works differently within everyone, and yet very similarly within us all. It talks about growing and changing and developing as people, and how other things grow and develop differently.
This book took a very very complex idea of DNA and development and growth and simplified it to a children’s level. They did a really good job of hitting the key parts of the DNA and how it works within humans and plants and animals. Little side texts took the reader a little deeper into how different organisms grow and change and how DNA works within them. It also talked about how you get DNA from your parents and how we are similar and yet different and it was a really sweet way of learning about DNA.
If I were teaching Middle School Science this could be a good way to open up a class if we were to go into DNA and different parts of cells and growth. A simple introduction to a much bigger topic.
This book took a very very complex idea of DNA and development and growth and simplified it to a children’s level. They did a really good job of hitting the key parts of the DNA and how it works within humans and plants and animals. Little side texts took the reader a little deeper into how different organisms grow and change and how DNA works within them. It also talked about how you get DNA from your parents and how we are similar and yet different and it was a really sweet way of learning about DNA.
If I were teaching Middle School Science this could be a good way to open up a class if we were to go into DNA and different parts of cells and growth. A simple introduction to a much bigger topic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2026
This book a, child-friendly introduction to genetics that explains how all living things grow and change based on DNA—a "coded instruction manual". It reveals how this tiny, spiral-shaped genetic code determines unique traits, links families, and connects all life on Earth.
I think the idea of this book is great however, i do not think it is for children any younger than fifth grade like advertised. It is very wordy and uses a lot of words that even as a college student i don't see.
I do not see myself using this in my classroom just because I think it would also raise questions from students at this age that is not my place to answer.
I think the idea of this book is great however, i do not think it is for children any younger than fifth grade like advertised. It is very wordy and uses a lot of words that even as a college student i don't see.
I do not see myself using this in my classroom just because I think it would also raise questions from students at this age that is not my place to answer.
June 21, 2021
Loved this one! So many "picture" books about more complex topics like DNA end up encyclopedic and fact-heavy. This flows like a story, as if you were sitting down with a grown up after asking, "How does a baby grow?" "Why is a whale so large?" "How come I have red hair and she has brown hair?" Extra facts sneak in a clearly distinguishable font. The illustrations are diverse and consistent. There could have been a bit more backmatter, but this was excellent. Would work great as a read-aloud and curriculum connection for K-5. I wish this was available as an ebook!
November 25, 2024
I learned content that I didn't even know as an adult in this book. Some of the information was a refresher, don't get me wrong, but some of it was new! Who knew it took 100 years for a clam to fully develop? Fun and interesting facts about life and our ecosystem were listed throughout the book. I also loved the visual aids, as they enhanced my reading experience. I was fully immersed in a new learning world, one I had not experienced since science class! I recommend this for your child, however, would not introduce this until age 10 or so.
April 4, 2020
Written in easy-to-follow language, this book explains clearly the complex concept of DNA as a story. Wrapping the reader in a smooth, flowing text with it's lively, intricate illustrations, it is both fascinating and enchanting, taking us on the magical journey that is simply life. Both a lovely, gentle work of art and an insightful, factual nonfiction book, this is bound to educate, inspire and delight readers of any age.
September 16, 2022
I enjoy most of the book with drawing with getting support from drawing that I can have lots of joy and detail. It was really pretty and I pretty sure if you like science, this book is one of the greatest material that you can learn about DNA. but I thought it has little too much detail on some of the pages and took me little long to think about every single detail. I won’t say that I hate it but I don’t think it will be my “favorite”
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November 27, 2020A simple overview of DNA--how DNA is different from person to person and species to species, how DNA tells our bodies how to grow and change, and how our DNA makes us similar too. A great introduction to a concept, though this doesn't teach any specifics about the topic or provide a list of additional sources.
November 30, 2020
Lovely soft colored illustrations pull readers in to learn more from the story/text. Davies shares this information as a story about growth of various animals. She segues into more information about DNA and how it creates and differentiates life forms. Informative blurbs are included on many pages for further exploration.
January 15, 2021
I really liked this approachable and easy to understand introduction to the concept of DNA and how it works in the world. Great back matter dives a little deeper and Emily Sutton's illustrations, featuring plants, animals, bugs, and humans of several races are charming. I appreciated the uniting close of the book.
February 25, 2021
A really well written introduction to DNA for kids. It takes a complex topic and breaks it down in a relatable way. Interesting and highly readable, this doesn't go very deep into DNA but it will tempt the interest of children. A great book to read at the start of a unit or to the STEM intrigued child.
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