The Dawn of Planet Earth

Gr 4–7—Starting with the first appearance of life on Earth, this series covers a large span of prehistoric history, highlighting one or two animals with well-chosen facts and useful, eye-catching illustrations. An anthropomorphized animal from the Devonian era introduces the species and appears in each scene as an observer or participant. The writing is conversational but also clear, with informative details that capture readers' attention. Illustrations include action scenes and straightforward species drawings; both support key points of the text effectively. Spreads include three or four text boxes, along with a time line and fact box. Careful, varied layouts avoid overcrowding for the most part, although the haphazard placement of the guide's introductory word balloon is potentially confusing. Information about evolution concerns more the "what" and "when" than "how," which is an appropriate treatment for this level.