Moth: An Evolution Story

Author:

Isabel Thomas

Illustrator:

Daniel Egneus

Published by:

Bloomsbury Children's Books

First Published:

20 Aug 2020

Ideal for readers aged

6-9y

My Review

A book of genius, this story is the perfect way to introduce children to the concept of evolution. So beautiful and simple and instinctive, that they will understand the process with ease. Not only that, it is absolutely stunning to look at! Thomas tells the story of peppered moths and how their evolution was driven by human activity - so this book not only makes a great science read aloud, but is a great way in to talking about the Industrial Revolution and the impact of air pollution too.

Heads Up!

The survival of the fittest concept is illustrated with bats and blue tits hunting for the moths, and the charcoal coloured moths are easy prey - children familiar with the natural world will have fewer problems with this, but for kids who are less at ease with the prey/predator relationship, this may come as a shock in what feels to begin with like a lovely, safe story book!

Publisher Review

Against a lush backdrop of lichen-covered trees, the peppered moth lies hidden. Until the world begins to change ... A clever picture book text about the extraordinary way in which animals have evolved, intertwined with the complication of human intervention. This remarkable paperback edition of the amazing story of the peppered moth is the perfect introduction to natural selection and evolution for children. Along come people with their magnificent machines which stain the land with soot. In a beautiful landscape changed by humans how will one little moth survive? Powerful and visually spectacular, Moth is the remarkable evolution story that captures the struggle of animal survival against the background of an evolving human world in a unique and atmospheric introduction to Darwin's theory of Natural Selection.