From Lava to Life: The Universe Tells Our Earth Story

by Jennifer Morgan

The second book of this series about our universe is a scientifically accurate telling of the story of the formation of Earth, ending with the dinosaurs. Gorgeous and ethereal illustrations and a story that brings children into a state of connectedness with the universe makes this an amazing book for parents and teachers who want to instill in kids a deep appreciation for themselves, their community, and the need to protect this planet that we all reside. When we take the time to learn about the beginnings of the universe, the miraculous conditions that make our existence possible, and how we are physically part of everything around us, a sense of connection forms and hopefully results in a desire to do good for the world around us and everyone in it. "Once upon a time" meets science in a children's picture book that tells the thrilling story of how life began on Earth. This book, the second in Universe trilogy, picks up the story where Born With A The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story left off, with the first appearance of life on Earth. It's a thrilling story about how Earth triumphs over crisis to become bacteria, jellyfish, flowers . . . even dinosaurs! A perfect series of kids books

Genres: Science, Picture Books, Childrens, Nonfiction, Prehistory, Evolution, Reference

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Adele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bounced back and forth between four and five stars for this one. I love the anthropomorphized universe's enthusiasm for bacteria and dinosaurs and concerns about the animals we might consider most important: "Who would carry my story forward now? Could I depend on those few scraggly birds still flitting about? Or those scrubby mini-mammals, huddling together for warmth and gnawing bits of frozen flesh off dead dinosaurs?" I was just as fascinated and enthralled by the magic of the science in this one as I was by Born with a Bang. The illustrations are gorgeous and fun to look at, but in the end I docked a star for illustrations that didn't fully support and enhance the text, in particular mini-mammals that appear to be finding food caught in the teeth of a dinosaur skeleton rather than actually eating frozen dinosaur flesh.

[Kris · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was disappointing. The anthropomorphizing of the universe is even worse in this one than in the previous volume, including words like magic and judging non-sentient beings for eating each other. Just weird and not a way to introduce these concepts to kids.

[Sandra Dutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three of the best children’s books I’ve found on evolution are a series by Jennifer Morgan and Dana Lynne Andersen (illustrator): Born with a Bang, From Lava to Life, and Mammals Who Morph. Morgan tells the story of the universe from the universe’s point of view, using metaphors a child can identify with: “About 13 billion years ago, or so, I was smaller than a piece of dust under your bed.” That piece of dust bursts into a “gargantuan balloon the size of a galaxy” and describes its future in terms of dreams: “fish cruising deep blue seas, insects alighting on flowers, reptiles basking on hot rocks in the Sun. . . .” I like the use of dreams as metaphor for change and possibility. Morgan emphasizes that the universe is “us.” We are all one, created from that single first piece of dust. The second book, From Lava to Life, focuses on the growth of life on earth, beginning with bacteria and ending with the dinosaurs. And in Mammals Who Morph, we see the evolution of animals into humans, again with the universe telling the story. On the last page we are reminded of our history:

“Every cell in your body is packed with hydrogen, made when I was born.

Your bones are hardened with calcium made by stars.

Your backbone was fashioned by fish.”

Morgan, who has a degree in theology from the University of San Francisco, also studied science at Princeton and interviewed many physicists while writing this series. She told the stories to her son, who wanted to know all about the universe, she said, including the texture of its edges.

I recommend this series to children, parents, and teachers.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Someone had this included in a list of Montessori curriculum books, but, upon reading, I think I would choose not to share it with children. The author takes several liberties, the biggest of which is personifying everything, including the universe. In fact, the book is told from the first person perspective of the universe, which I found incredibly irritating. And why she opted to include "magic" in a book about science, I'll never understand. ("Bacteria on top ate rays of light and magically transformed sun energy into food. What wizards they were!" p. 12) Finally, some of the vocabulary she included was a little immature for such a grand topic ("Sometimes the little ones [bacteria] multiplied inside big ones until there were so many little ones that the big ones exploded. Eeeewww!" p. 16; "I realized that a whole new kind of life had just come into being. They were life eaters. ... Eating one's neighbor was more than rude." p. 16)

[Jeanette Hargreaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part two in a three-part series that help children to see how everything is connected, and what a miracle life on earth is.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Two is as good as Book One in this series. A great way to explain our world’s beginning to children. The pictures keep them looking at the book as you read through the wonderful story. The back has a glossary, a timeline, and more.

I’ve read these books to my class numerous times. I think the next time I do, I might have to take pictures of the pictures to show on a screen as I read.

[Cindi · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent overview of the beginnings of life on earth. This is book two in a series of three. I like how the information is given on a young child's level and then spelled out in more detail at the end of the book as a follow-up for more discussion.

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I learned alot and I'm not about to bore you with it, ok. But I do NOT reccomend this book to anyone except for someone that loves to read about the earth!!!!!!

[Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows perfectly from the first book in the series and tells about the Coming of Life, which is the Second Great Lesson in Montessori.