How did life begin? What makes the continents move? Are Birds really dinosaurs? The answers to such questions can be discovered by reading the ancient messages left on the earth. Sara Stein, author of The Science Book and The Body Book , involves children, who are earth's newest inhabitants, in exploring beaches, mountains, woodlands, and swamps and unlocking the ancient secrets of the world. Scores of fascinating projects range from raising tadpoles and preserving snake skins and paw prints to making a plankton net, a plant press, and seaweed pudding. Hundreds of drawings and photographs are featured throughout. Selection of the Children's Book-of-the-Month Club. Winner of the New York Academy of Sciences Children's Science Book Award, First Prize. Suitable for ages 10-14. 73,000 copies in print. Grade 6-10 Stein tries to make evolution accessible and immediate, without distracting readers with the usual controversies that accompany its study. She approaches the material through natural history and biology, and suggests activities that demonstrate the scientific principles involved. After carefully defining theory and explaining that evolution is a combination of many theories, Stein attempts to explain what scientists have discovered and/or believe. Her good intentions have, unfortunately, prevented complete success. She introduces technical terms and processes, but before she defines them completely, she switches to colloquialisms that confuse rather than clarify. This problem is compounded by the lack of a glossary, and the fact that new words are not always defined. Occasionally this leads to a patronizing tone, as when Stein describes Ice Age Man gathering food by ``grabbing whatever is closest at hand like kids let loose in a candy store.'' Many photographs of children engaged in common activities provide visual appeal but little elucidation. Well-drawn diagrams are not always supported by clear textual explanation. Some suggested activities will aid understanding. Others are not explained fully enough to ensure success (a compost heap), are of questionable value (skinning and tanning hides), or are simply unsafe (demonstrating the Moro reflex with a baby). Although this book cannot easily be used as a first source, Stein's unique perspective and broad coverage are too important to pass it up completely. Allen Meyer, Vernon Area Public Library District, Prairie View, Ill. Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. There are about as many tomorrows as there have been yesterdays, about as many new kinds of life to come as there have been old kinds of life in the past. So far, you are the only kind of life on this earth that can think about that . . . -Sara Stein AN ENTHRALLING JOURNEY THROUGH DEEP TIME, WHERE YOUNG READERS . . . IMAGINE eating dinner at a Stone Age Farm, joining a herd of three-toed horses, climbing a mounting under the sea, sniffing air that's 5 billion years old, befriending a lovely lugworm. EXPLORE messages from the past on local beaches, mountains, woodlands, and swamps. PRESERVE seastars, snakeskins, dragonflies, and pawprints. INTERPRET natural codes in songs birds sing, and games puppies play. MAKE a plankton net, a view box, a plant press, stone tools, natural dyes, seaweed pudding, leather. Hundreds of photographs and drawings throughout Praise for THE SCIENCE BOOK "An aid in answering those endless questions pertaining to the ordinary functions of life that adults seem so permanently at a loss to answer." --Booklist In addition to The Evolution Book, Sara Stein is the author of The Body Book and The Science Book. Together, her books have over 345,000 copies in print.