The evolution of our planet is endlessly fascinating. From the Big Bang to the dawn of man and beyond, the featured books cast a light on the development of planet Earth. Ranging from interactive books to cartoons to photographic wonders, readers will find a treasure trove of information among their pages.
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Here We Are: Notes For Living On Planet Earth
by Oliver Jeffers
Review: Oliver Jeffers introduces young readers to the beauty and wonder of our world in this touching look at Earth and its inhabitants. Written for his son, the dedication concludes, “These are the things I think you need to know”. Stunning illustrations bring the solar system, the ocean and the different peoples that populate the planet to life. Whilst the text, written so that a child can grasp the ideas introduced, conveys important messages about acceptance and protecting the planet. A joy to read, this book is sure to be a firm favourite.
Suggested Reading Age: 3 – 7 years. In my opinion, older Primary aged readers would also enjoy the book’s illustrations.
Nonfiction Nuggets Teaching Tips: It All Starts Here: Use the book as a starting point for students to explore areas they find interesting or would like to find out more about.
And There’s More (for younger readers): If this book is well received, look at others by Oliver Jeffers such as Here We Are: Book of Animals (this is a simple alphabet book with an animal focus) and Here We Are: Book of Numbers (this introduces readers to the planet as they learn to count).
The Ultimate Book of Planet Earth
by Anne-Sophie Baumann (author), Didier Balicevic (illustrator)
Review: Fully interactive, this engaging book invites readers in. More than 45 moving parts, including pop-ups, fold-out pages, pull-out tabs and movable wheels, bring the planet and how it works to life. Contents include volcanoes, weather and the evolution of man, along with an inside look at the planet. Written in an easy-to-understand style, readers are sure to return to this book time and again as they interact with its hands-on elements.
Suggested Reading Age: 5 – 8 years
Nonfiction Nuggets Teaching Tip: Interactive Extravaganza: Challenge students to create an interactive display or book as they explore different aspects of our planet’s development and history.
100 Things to Know About Planet Earth
by Usborne
Review: Brightly coloured and inviting, this Usborne book presents readers with 100 fascinating pieces of information about our planet. Including details such as the fact that during strong earthquakes the Earth swings like a bell, readers young and old are sure to learn something new. The end of the book features 10 ways we can protect our Earth, such as saving water and energy and provides actionable tips readers can carry out for each. Great to dip in and out of, this is a super addition to any library.
Suggested Reading Age: 8 – 12 years old
Nonfiction Nuggets Teaching Tip: Super Facts: Encourage students to find out some fascinating facts about the Earth and represent these in an inviting way using bold colours and graphics.
Older Than Dirt
by Don Brown and Dr Michael Perfit
Review: Wonderfully appealing, readers will love learning about the history of the Earth in this entertaining book. A friendly groundhog presents key moments and elements in the development of our planet such as the Big Bang and plate tectonics in an easy-to-understand manner. Written by Don Brown (the two-time Sibert Honor Medalist ) and Dr Michael Perfit (Professor and Chair of Geological Sciences at the University of Florida), this graphic style nonfiction book is both highly informative and fun for readers of all ages.
Suggested Reading Age: 8 – 12 years. In my opinion, slightly older, reluctant readers would enjoy this, too.
Nonfiction Nuggets Teaching Tips: Draw It Yourself: Inspired by the book, ask students to represent an aspect of the Earth’s evolution in a graphic novel or comic book style.
A Brief History of Earth
by Andrew H. Knoll
Review: A brief, yet highly informative, overview of how our planet evolved. This book, suitable for older teens and adults, explains the history of Earth in an easy-to-read, accessible manner. Each of its chapters focuses on a different aspect of Earth, such as Chemical Earth, Oxygen Earth and Catastrophic Earth. The considered use of illustrations, graphs and photographs effectively demonstrate the points discussed. This is a superb introduction to the Earth’s evolution.
Suggested Reading Age: Older teens & adults
Nonfiction Nuggets Teaching Tips: A Visual Guide: Students pick an aspect of the Earth’s development that interests them. They represent this in a visual manner, using labelled diagrams, photographs and drawings to teach others the most significant points.
Downloadable Book List
Happy Reading!
Do YOU know of any other books about our planet to add to this list? Please leave a recommendation below to help further support our community.
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