Life through time The 700-million-year story of life on Earth

As far as prehistoric creatures go, the ever-popular dinosaurs tend to steal the show. But what critters preceded them? And who appeared after their retreat? Woodward gamely tackles nearly the entire time line of life on Earth, from tiny sea-dwelling organisms to the arrival of humans. An impressive amount of knowledge is parceled out in this gorgeous picture book, with major eras each given a two-page spread and brief introduction, with much of the information cleverly tucked into the illustrated margin notes. The incredibly lifelike images are teeming with activity and packed with hidden details sure to offer young readers, immersed in unusual underwater scenes or depictions of megafauna on busy riverbanks, new surprises upon return inspections. Back matter includes an overview of corresponding continental shifts and an index for quick reference. Despite small gaps in the time line--a jump from 66 to 3.7 million years ago, for instance--this remains a marvelous whirlwind introduction to the complexity and beauty of life on this planet.