Amazing Evolution: The Journey of Life

by Anna Claybourne

Evolution can be a difficult idea to wrap our brains it deals with random, unlikely events, combined with vast lengths of time too enormous to comprehend. But the evidence is all around us – in the fossils of long-dead creatures, and in our genes and the relationships between all living beings. Amazing Evolution shines a light on this incredible process , from the beginnings of life around 3.8 billion years ago, to the millions of different species alive today, including the moon-walking, talking apes with super-powerful brains – human beings! Filled with clear explanations , beautiful illustrations and fascinating facts about the planet’s strangest and most spectacular creatures, Amazing Evolution will keep children (and adults, too!) enthralled for hours. Delve into the pages and learn what makes a fish a fish, why giraffes have such long necks and how all living things, from cabbages to tigers, are related!

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Evolution, Nature, Animals, History, Childrens

80 pages, Hardcover

First published April 9, 2019

About the author

Freelance children’s writer and editor, based in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Anna Claybourne writes children's information books on all kinds of topics: science experiments, ancient history, the human body, things to make, the environment, robots, evolution, art, fashion, Shakespeare and many more - as well as retellings of myths, legends and Shakespeare plays, and rhyming stories.

She studied English literature at university, but has always been interested in science, technology and art and design as well. She loves making and crafting, especially sewing, and her house is full of fabrics, craft materials, tools and books. Other interests and passions include camping, cats, outdoor swimming, news and politics, and music - she plays the trombone and has played in many different bands and orchestras, including performing live on a John Peel session in 2002 with Scottish band Ballboy.

Anna was born and grew up in Yorkshire, but has also lived in Canada as a student, Iceland as an au pair, and Costa Rica as a conservation volunteer, where she saw tarantulas, tapirs, monkeys, sloths, crocodiles and giant katydids. She now lives in Edinburgh with her two children and two cats, Skye and Socks.

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Albeit I have always been considerably more into literature, history, philosophy and the like (into the humanities and the social sciences so to speak), I do find questions regarding biology and in particular the history of life on earth (and as such of course also evolution and palaeontology) absolutely fascinating and intriguing (as well as realistic and believable, as something that is true and at least for me not all that much controversial and morally problematic either).

And yes indeed and with the above in firmly in mind, Anna Claybourne with her 2019 non-fiction and eighty pages in length picture book Amazing Evolution: The Journey of Life provides in my humble opinion an excellent, nicely readable and delightfully extensive basic introduction to all things evolution. But just to say that while Amazing Evolution: The Journey of Life is textually extensive, it is thankfully also not overly intensive, with Claybourne's text never presenting itself as overwhelming, as too scientific, as too potentially convoluted for an intended age group of young readers from about the age of nine or so onwards, and thankfully also written without Claybourne neither trying to add artificial humour nor verbally trying to attack or rant and rave at creationists, but simply providing facts and scientifically solid information and fossil/geologic proofs (evidence), and that furthermore, Amazing Evolution: The Journey of Life is for and to me also not just a book suitable for children, but equally a tome for teenagers and even for adults wanting something basic and simple (but not ever simplistic and as such potentially textually annoying, as what Anna Claybourne writes in Amazing Evolution: The Journey of Life is factual, informative and wonderfully never talks down to her potential readers or comes across as being in any manner patronising or a so-called know-it-all smart Alec).

Now Wesley Robins' accompanying artwork for Amazing Evolution: The Journey of Life is nicely descriptive, realistic and lushly rendered. But while Robins' illustrations do a very good job mirroring and complimenting Claybourne's text, I personally would definitely prefer to have not just drawings but also some photographs provided in Amazing Evolution: The Journey of Life (as photographs of fossils demonstrate the undeniable proof of prehistoric life and that life has existed on earth and has changed and evolved for almost four billion years just a bit more obviously and realistically in my opinion than drawings, than human created pictures do). But well, since my preference of having both illustrations and photographs in Amazing Evolution: The Journey of Life is really and truly entirely personal, I will not in fact be considering this as something that is in any manner a major shortcoming for Amazing Evolution: The Journey of Life, since indeed, the combination of Wesley Robins' images and Anna Claybourne's text is generally totally and utterly successful and works really well together.

So yes, the only reasons why I am not in fact rating Amazing Evolution: The Journey of Life with five stars (but instead with four) are that for one, I kind of do not think the demise of the dinosaurs is necessarily to be considered as evolution, as a slow and gradual changing and moving towards extinction (since that meteor strike 65 million years ago pretty much wiped out both the dinosaurs and many other plant and animals species in a very short period of time, in other words pretty much instantaneously) and that for two (and for me rather annoyingly and frustratingly) the fact that Anna Claybourne has provided no bibliographical materials whatsoever (no source notes, no websites, no books for further reading) certainly does kind of lower the research value of Amazing Evolution: The Journey of Life (and I must say that I really do NOT understand why there are no sources being acknowledged and why lists for further reading and study would not be provided).

[Reyhaneh · Rating 4 out of 5]

توضیحات واضح و علمی، تصویرسازی های جالب و متناسب، ترجمه ی خوب و...
کتاب برای نوجوانان و بزرگسالان و برای شروع مبحث تکامل مناسب است. کلیات رو خوب بیان کرده و اطلاعات جالبی رو در اخیار خواننده قرار می‌دهد.

[- The Polybrary - · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing Evolution is a beautifully illustrated, bite-sized science overview of the origins of humankind. Probably best for middle to late elementary school students, but the illustrations will capture the eyes of any age group (including adults)! The topics range from the beginning of our modern theory of evolution to how we categorize organisms (Kingdom, Phylum, etc.). There are no pictures at all, but the illustrations are clear and lovely to look at. The text is well organized, with no one section or paragraph so long as to lose the attention of a young reader. I wish I had had this book when I was a child!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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[Nikta Khoraman · Rating 5 out of 5]

قراره که بیشتر از قبل درباره‌ی جهان حیرت کنید=)
چی‌ می‌شد کتاب علوم مدرسه هم همینقدر جذاب بود؟")
فکر می‌کنم بیشتر از پایان‌نامه‌های اکثر ما پشتش تحقیق و پژوهش بوده.
کتاب ۴ فصل داره:
۱. درک تکامل
۲. حیات در دوران گذشته
۳. درخت خانوادگی
۴. تکامل در عمل
در آخر هم نمونه‌هایی از حیوانات عجیب و جالب گونه‌های مختلف رو بهتون معرفی میکنه.
به گذشته، جنگل، قطب، دریا، آسمون، تنه‌ی درخت، داخل گل‌ها، زمان دایناسورها و خیلی جاهای دیگه سفر می‌کنید.
مناسب ۱۱ سال به بالا.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Special thanks to Netgalley, Quarto Publishing Group - Ivy Kids and Anna Clayborne for the opportunity to read and review this AMAZING book on evolution for kids!

I could not be more in love with this book. Science can get kind of science-y (definitely not a real word) sometimes and be sort of dull. If you don't have the write presentation of the information I can see anyone, especially kids just sitting there with eyes glazed over. Well fear not friends!! This book is EVERYTHING you could ask for on this topic. It has bright, colorful pages, cool illustrations and breaks down a very important topic in a very accessible way. It's good for the read/write learner as well as the visual learner. There is something in here for everyone.

I will absolutely be buying this for my daughter. She loves animals and nature and I can't wait to read this with her and teach her how exciting the world around her is. I highly recommend this book for you and your kids!

[Farnood · Rating 5 out of 5]

بسیار جذاب و آموزنده، مباحث نسبتا پیچیده رو به سادگی به همراه تصویر سازی های جذاب توضیح میده و موضوعات رو تا حد نیاز باز میکنه. از نظر علمی هم خیلی دقیق بود و دستی هم در مباحث برده نشده بود که تبحر مترجم رو هم نشون میده.
به شدت برای نوجوون ها پیشنهاد میکنمش، هدیه خیلی جذاب و مفیدی هم میتونه باشه 🤓

Such an informative book, covering most important topics regarding life and evolution in the simplest way possible with the help of great illustrations. Also its scientifically accurate and up to date.
Highly recommended for teenagers.

[Etienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

An informative book that covers evolution in a short and well explain way. Nothing that would make it stands out from the lot, but good enough to make it deserve its place.
I got this one as an ARC and just wanted to mentioned that the page 36/41 from my Ipad count, but more of the 70-71 from the bottom page mark in the book, the pictures does not appear in the yellow circle... Might want to fix it before the official publication!

[Judy Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sert ciltli kapağı ve nefis baskısıyla keşke bütün çocuklar sahip olabilseydi dediğim harika bir kitap. İllüstrasyonlar çok güzel ve evrimi, yeryüzündeki yaşamın milyonlarca yıllık yolculuğunu çok güzel anlatıyor. Bundan sonra da Kosmoz'u okumak lazım.

[Mikko Saari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Erittäin hyvä lastenkirja evoluutiosta. Kirjassa esitellään evoluution perusteet hyvin selkeässä ja ymmärrettävässä muodossa. Tätä on helppo suositella vähän isompien alakouluikäisten käsiin – ja miksei myös aikuisille, jotka haluavat kerrata evoluution perusjutut nopeasti ja helposti.

Tämän kirjan luettuaan ymmärtää aivan riittävän hyvin, mistä evoluution teoriassa oikein on kyse. Teksti ei ole erityisen lapsille suunnattua, Ihmeellinen evoluutio ei lässytä tai makeile, vaan vain yksinkertaisesti selittää asiat suoraviivaisesti ja helppotajuisesti.

Wesley Robinsin kuvitus on selkeää ja miellyttävää. Kirjaa on ilo silmäillä ja suurikokoiset sivut mahdollistavat mukavan väljän taiton.

Kirjan tavasta käsitellä evoluutiota voi nostaa muutamia myönteisiä huomioita. Evoluution keksijänä mainitaan tietysti Charles Darwin, mutta myös samoja ajatuksia samoihin aikoihin kehitellyt Alfred Russel Wallace – ja nostetaanpa samalla aukeamalla esiin myös yksi kaikkien aikojen fossiilinetsijöistä, Mary Anning.

Hyvä huomio on myös maininta siitä, ettei ihminen ole mikään kehityksen huipentuma, eikä evoluutio sinänsä muuta lajeja kehittyneemmiksi – se vain sopeuttaa niitä ympäristöön.

Ihmeellinen evoluutio on oiva tapa saada lukija ymmärtämään yhden tieteen historian merkittävimmän teorian perusteet, joten sitä on helppo suositella lasten ja aikuisten luettavaksi.

[João Teixeira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Este livro é muito interessante, mas talvez devido a uma tradução ou a uma revisão erradas, fiquei um pouco de pé atrás logo nas primeiras páginas, ao ler coisas como: "A evolução explica como surgiram todos os seres vivos que existem na Terra" (a forma como a frase está elaborada parece querer dizer que a teoria da evolução explica o surgimento da vida na Terra, o que não é verdade... a teoria da evolução pode ajudar a compreender a razão por que existem diferentes espécies que povoam o mundo, mas não explica o surgimento da vida) ou "É devido à evolução que os seres vivos parecem tão bem adaptados ao seu meio ambiente" (mais uma frase que, a meu ver, não está correctamente formulada, pois não é devido à evolução que os seres vivos parecem bem adaptados ao seu meio ambiente... o processo de evolução decorre da forma como uma espécie se adapta, de geração em geração, ao seu meio ambiente). Há ainda outra frase que não estará incorrecta, mas que não faz muito sentido associá-la ao processo de evolução: "A evolução explica também porque [sic] existiram muitas outras criaturas que já não existem, como por exemplo os dinossauros". Mais uma vez, parece-me que estas frases ou foram mal traduzidas, ou então mal revistas, o que é uma pena, tendo em conta que este é um livro que se pretende de rigor científico para o público infanto-juvenil.
Em todo o caso, tirando essas frases da introdução, a verdade é que depois o livro se torna muito interessante. A informação científica veiculada não volta a incorrer em mal-entendidos como os referidos, e a leitura torna-se prazerosa, até porque as ilustrações acompanham muito bem o texto. Fiquei a conhecer alguns termos que ainda não conhecia tão bem, como "coevolução" e "evolução convergente".
Acabei por gostar muito de ler este livro!

[Octopodey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love evolution and I think this is a pretty good book if one needs to explain it to children (or adults). The art is fun and cute, and I think it is a good transition from picture-books to this slightly more involved and grown-up topic. I only have a couple small picky complaints but overall enjoyed it very much, and I will strongly consider buying this for my daughter.

Picky thing #1: On the first page I saw this line: "Evolution also explains why there used to be many other creatures, such as dinosaurs, which no longer exist." Obviously the sentiment is true, but our best evidence is that dinosaurs no longer exist due to an environmental catastrophe, not evolutionary change. Evolution is way cooler than dinosaurs being eradicated by a meteor (which is even addressed on page 11!), and creatures that don't exist now because of evolution are things like common ancestors which are super cool but probably less well known.

Picky thing #2: In the discussion on page 21 of humans being the only animal to have complex culture when we know that other species do have culture, including complex family groups and tool use. However I was very glad to see the point made that evolution doesn't have a "point" or try to reach "higher."

My only other feedback would be a request for a "for more information on evolution, check out these books/resources!" section at the end of the book. I would love to know further child-appropriate reading on the topic!

I received this book in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.

[FatemehZahra JalaviNezhad · Rating 4 out of 5]

#تکامل_شگفت_انگیر
#آنا_کلی_بورن
#کاوه_فیض_اللهی


خاطرم نیست با معرفی چه شخصی این کتاب رو خریدم ولی خوشحالم از خریدش.
سوالایی که تو ذهنم بود و شاید به زبون آورده نمیشد، اینجا پاسخ داده شده بود که خب همونطور که از اسم کتاب پیداست درمورد نظریه تکامل هست؛ پس اگر این موضوع براتون جذاب هست این کتاب هم براتون جذاب خواهد بود.


نقطه ضعف کتاب که باعث شد یک ستاره کم بگیره:
اول ویراستاریش که تقریبا اعتقادی به ویرگول نداشت!، دوم ترجمه بود که یک سری کلمات رو اصرار داشت تبدیل به "دقیقا یک کلمه" در فارسی بکنه و نتیجه این بود که فهم کل جمله سخت میشد! به نظرم مترجم میتونست اون کلمه رو به صورت یک جمله ترجمه کنه تا راحت تر مفهوم رو برسونه بدون پیچیدگی...

و مهمترین نقطه ضعف "بیانش" بود که مثل کتاب علوم یا زیست خشک بود و حیف شد که بااین کتاب رنگی رنگی، این کلمات خشک ترکیب بشه! میتونست کلمات و ترجمه جذاب تری داشته باشه و طیف مخاطب وسیع تری رو شامل بشه؛ من وقتی متوجه این قضیه شدم که از فصل ۲ شروع کردم کتاب رو برای مامانم خووندن و کاملا برام ملموس بود که یه قسمت هایی میتونست روون تر ترجمه بشه طوریکه لازم نباشه من کتاب رو برای مامانم بخوونم یعنی اونقدر جذاب باشه که افرادی در سن مادر من بدون حضور راوی، علاقمند به خووندنش بشن...

اونقدر این نقطه ضعف به نظرم جدی بود که باعث شد به ۳ ستاره هم فکر کنم ولی واقعا دلم نیومد به خاطر ضعفی که احتمالا بیشترش به خاطر مترجم بود، دو ستاره از ستاره های کتاب کم بشه.

[Seema Rao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging ~ Well-written ~ Engrossing

tl;dr: Our ancestors weren't just a bunch of goons or apes.

This extremely well-done book makes many of the concepts of evolutionary biology understandable. I loved the progression from big concepts of evolution to more practical aspects (like homologous structures). The book doesn't shy away from controversies, like evolution, and offers more than the most simple definitions (like adding Wallace to the discussion of Darwin).

I really liked this book and hope its used in schools and libraries.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Mihai-Andrei · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.9/5

[Madisyn Manzella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good (and short) introduction to evolution. Perfect for those, especially younger individuals, wanting to learn a little on the topic of evolution in an accessible manner.

[Dbgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

First my original review in Finnish and after that there’s also an English translation (by me, hopefully it’s understandable!)

Aivan loistava yleistajuinen tietokirja joka sopii niin lapsille kuin myös aikuisille. Informaatiomäärä on valtava, mutta pää ei silti rasitu liikaa, koska asioihin ei mennä kauhean syvälle vaan esitellään pintapuolisesti, mikä ei siis ole huono juttu ollenkaan varsinkin kun teos on erityisesti lapsille suunnattu. Pikemminkin tälläistä tietokirjaa olen etsinyt koko aikuisikäni. Se esittää asiat yksinkertaisesti mutta ei lasta alentavasti ja kuvitus on selkeää ja kaunista. Parhaimmillaan se johdattaa lapsen mahdollisesti etsimään asioista lisää itse ja tämä voikin saada jonkun innokkaan lapsen toivottavasti jopa luonnontieteilijäksi. Ainoa mistä valittaisin on sen kummallinen kerrontatapa kertoa vähän liian usein kuin jokin eläin olisi ikään kuin päättänyt kehittää jonkin hyödyllisen kyvyn, vaikka se ei olekaan tahdonalainen asia. Muutoin teos on erinomainen tietokirja jota suosittelisin ihan kaikille joita kiinnostaa maailman historia sekä kirjan esittämä peruskysymys siitä mikä on evoluutio.

---

A brilliant easy-to-understand non-fiction book that fits both, to children and adults. The amount of information is enormous, but brains will not overload because they don’t go too deep into things, they present the things on a surface which isn’t a bad thing especially when the target audience is the kids. I’ve actually tried to find this kind of non-fiction book all my adult life. It presents the subjects in a simple way but it doesn’t do it condescendingly and the art is clear and pretty. At its best it can lead a child possibly into trying to find more information about these things and maybe even get some child to become a natural scientist. The only thing I’d complaint is that it has too often a strange way of telling about things, like some animal would have developed some useful skill by itself even it is not a volitional thing. Otherwise this is an excellent non-fiction book that I would recommend to everyone that are interested in the world’s history and the basic question this book asks, ergo what is evolution.

[Kiril Valchev · Rating 5 out of 5]

След чудесната адаптация за деца на "Произход на видовете", с които Сабина Радева и "Сиела" ни зарадваха, издателство "Фют" са подготвили нещо страхотно и за (малко) по-големите естествоизпитатели. "Удивителната история на живота" от Анна Клейбърн (с илюстрации на Уесли Робинс) запознава своите читатели с тяхното неподозирано голямо семейство и продължаващия, вече близо 4 млрд. г., процес, отговорен за него.
Въпреки няколко дребни неточности и пренебрежимо малко печатни грешки, изданието е прекрасно и подобни начинания трябва да се подкрепят.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would have been perfect for me in high school when I was taking biology. Biology has never been a strong suit of mine but this book breaks it down for me to understand easily. The book is easily broken down into different categories by having chapters. Each chapter focus on evolution but it starts at the beginning and works its way up, and then ends with examples. Each chapter has subsections. The subsections are just a two page spread that gives the basics and then some more major details. Each page is wonderfully illustrated to go along with the content. The pages have diagrams and charts to help walk you through the important details but in an easier way to understand. The book feels more like you are walking through photos with details attached instead of details with photos but not in the traditional captioned photo sense. While the majority of the page is photos, diagrams, and small drawings, it doesn't take away from the information being shared. I definitely liked that a glossary was included because when talking about things like evolution, we need to know about other scientific terms but we don't always know them. My favorite part was learning about the different adaptations animals have had, as well as what scientists predict our adaptations as humans to be in the future.

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una vera grazia.
L’evoluzione spiegata ai bambini in un libro che ripercorre il viaggio della vita sulla Terra, dai primi organismi agli esseri umani.
Da queste pagine sgorga un fiume di divertimento infinito. Immagini bellissime, chiare, colorate, dettagliate e accattivanti. La spiegazione a portata di bambino (che non vuol dire per forza riduttiva) di argomenti complicati come il concetto di specie, di evoluzione e di mutazione, di DNA, di era o di albero genealogico.
Da restare a bocca aperta.

[Patricia Lamoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting addition to a 3rd to 6th-grade classroom. Eye-catching illustrations will grab the little one's attention, but intriguing matters of existence will also intrigue older curiosities. Snippets of humanity's beginnings, from the origins of humankind to how we classify different species in four well-organized chapters, and concise blurbs will keep the attention of any child. Many of the principles of evolutionary biology are made simple in this excellent book. I loved how it tackles the controversial issue of evolution in a kid-friendly way and offers a more comprehensive look at how the whole things work. I especially liked the part about what humans might look like in the future.
Anna Claybourne is a celebrated author of over 100 books and has been shortlisted or won numerous awards for various books about science and nature.

[Theediscerning · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book on evolution for the school library, or for some home use. It doesn't cover deniers, but it does feature all you would actually want, from how the whole thing works, to coevolution, to the different ways flight evolved, what humans might come to look like, and so on. The visual element is finely judged, the readability (which includes the prevalence or not of scattering text willy-nilly in factoids across the page) is perfect, and it's pretty much the go-to book to explain the science to any primary school child. I even learnt a couple of details.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of lots of bright pictures, captions and interesting information, this children’s book gives lots of information about evolution and the history of life on earth. The book is divided into 3 distinct sections with a glossary and index at the end. Each section is well laid out and the language and vocabulary used is very child-friendly and accessible.

I wouldn’t hesitate to use this book with key stage 2 when learning about animal adaptations and evolution.

[Osmar Piza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautifully illustrated and has the latest and historical evolution research. For example when I was growing up we were taught dinosaurs were just giant lizards with scaly skin and were earthtone colors. But the latest research shows that dinosaurs in fact could've been feathered and wildly beautiful in their color schemes. I think it's things like this that truly intrigue our young students and we should continue this good work.

[Jeannette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book about evolution told in a lively colorful format, big book style. It's definitely better than "just" a children's book, anyone would find this review of evolution refreshing. It's up to date and covers most all the topics of interest, maybe even some that arent as vital as others. On the whole, a significant contribution to revealing evolutionary ideas to others.

[Bo0kSLoth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazingly illustrated little book full of "dino"-size bites of scientific knowledge that are fun facts for kids and adults of all ages. Clear and well organized.
**I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.**

[Eren ve Emre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her akşam 2 sayfa okuyoruz. 5 yaş anlayabilir dili çok güzel

[Art Vandelay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing illustrations and lots of data.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent reference style book

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a children book but I loved the illustrations and how simply things related to evolution are explained.

[Amirhosein · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتابی مبتدی در موضوع تکامل و سفر پیدایش موجودات و تغییرات آنها از منظر علمی و تجربی