Books about Evolution for Children

The Darwin Awards: Evolution in Action, by Wendy Northcutt. With over a quarter million copies in print and six months on The New York Times bestseller list, The Darwin Awards shows that readers crave humor. And what better place to find it than in the stories of those human beings who improve the gene pool by removing themselves from it in a sublimely idiotic fashion. Paperback, 352 pages

Darwin Awards II: Unnatural Selection, by Wendy Northcutt. In the spirit of Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, this new edition brings together a fresh collection of magnificent misadventures, honoring those who continue to improve our gene pool by removing themselves from it in a sublimely idiotic fashion. Paperback, 256 pages.

Darwin Awards III: Survival of the Fittest, by Wendy Northcutt. One of America's most popular humor series returns with a brand-new collection of hilariously macabre mishaps and misadventures. Honoring those who improve our gene pool by inadvertently removing themselves from it, this new release shows once more how uncommon common sense still is. Paperback, 252 pages.

Creationism's Trojan Horse, by Barbara Forrest & Paul R. Gross. In Creationism's Trojan Horse, Forrest and Gross document the agenda and advances of "Intelligent Design," the most recent manifestation of American science education's perennial affliction: creationism. They explain and analyze what "design theorists" call their "Wedge Strategy" -an attempt to substitute "theistic science" for natural science in the public mind. Hardcover, 401 pages.

The book, suitable for grades 5 – 9, begins with a description of Darwin's family life, privileged childhood, and education. His five-year voyage on the Beagle, during which he collected specimens to send back to England, is vividly described. The author places Darwin's ideas in context with those of other philosophical and scientific thinkers, tracing the work of both his predecessors and contemporaries.

She also explores how his subject's theories were accepted or rejected by others and discusses how the disagreement among scientists and creationists continues to the present time. The text is supplemented by 21 activities.. A list of resources for further research encourages students to delve deeper into the topic.

Life on Earth: The Story of Evolution by Steve Jenkins. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 2002.

There are millions of different kinds of plants and animals living on the earth. Many millions more lived here in the past. The author raises these questions: Where did they all come from? Why have some become extinct and others lived on?  In this remarkable book for children (ages 4 – 8), Jenkins explores the fascinating history of life on earth and the awe-inspiring story of evolution, Charles Darwin's great contribution to modern science.

Darwin and Evolution for Kids: His Life and Ideas with 21 Activities by Kristan Lawson. Chicago: Chicago Review Press. 2003.

The book, suitable for grades 5 – 9, begins with a description of Darwin's family life, privileged childhood, and education. His five-year voyage on the Beagle, during which he collected specimens to send back to England, is vividly described. The author places Darwin's ideas in context with those of other philosophical and scientific thinkers, tracing the work of both his predecessors and contemporaries.

She also explores how his subject's theories were accepted or rejected by others and discusses how the disagreement among scientists and creationists continues to the present time. The text is supplemented by 21 activities.. A list of resources for further research encourages students to delve deeper into the topic.

The Tree of Life: The Wonders of Evolution by Ellen Jackson, Judeanne Winter (Illustrator). Amherst, NY, Prometheus Books, 2004.

This is a simple explanation (for children 4 to 9) of the process of evolution from the first appearance of "almost alive things" to the development of the millions of life forms that exist today. From the ocean's microscopic life to amphibians, reptiles, dinosaurs, insects, birds, animals, and the first humans, Jackson celebrates the marvels of evolution so that young children can begin to appreciate its significance.

Our Family Tree: An Evolution Story by Lisa Westberg Peters. San Diego: Harcourt Children's Books. 2003.

This picture book is a scientifically accurate account of evolution, starting from one-celled life and moving forward through fish, lizards, and apes to today's human being. The first-person narrative approach is especially child-friendly: "On the outside, we looked like hairy lizards. We hunted all day and had sharp teeth to tear our food. On the inside, our blood ran warm, almost as warm as it does today." Changes to the planet in the forms of continental shifts, an asteroid strike, and volcanoes play their roles. An explanatory afterword and a timeline are included.