When Darwin Sailed the Sea: Uncover how Darwin's revolutionary ideas helped change the world

By Author / Illustrator

David Long, Sam Kalda

Genre

Biographies & Autobiographies

Age range(s)

Publisher

Wide Eyed Editions

ISBN

9780711249660

Format

Hardback

Published

07-07-2020

Synopsis

'A wonderful addition to any biography section for young people' - School Library Journal

Published to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the launch of the HMS Beagle, this beautifully illustrated narrative non-fiction book tells the story of Charles Darwin, and shows how his revolutionary research changed the world forever.

At the age of 22, Charles Darwin clambered up the steps of HMS Beagle armed with enough notepads to last him for several years and set sail on a journey of exploration that would change his life and how we view the entire world forever. 'The voyage of the Beagle has been by far the most important event of my life and has determined my whole career.'

From his fascination with the natural world which began at an early age, his love of collecting new specimens and keen eye for observation, to his groundbreaking theory of evolution, uncover the incredible life of Charles Darwin in this fascinating story of his life. At the back of the book, explore a selection of the amazing species he discovered, concise profiles of some of the incredible people who helped Darwin on his path to becoming a groundbreaking scientist, a glossary of terms and a timeline of Darwin's life and career.

When Darwin Sailed the Sea is the perfect book for any child who has ever looked at the world and asked 'why'.

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Reviews

This is a brilliant example of a non-fiction picture book for young readers. I have no doubt that it would be a welcome addition to any child's bookshelf, or primary school classroom. Written using clear concise, child friendly language, while including enough detail to answer the numerous questions of a young inquiring mind, When Darwin Sailed the Sea is a great read.

12 short chapters tell the life story of the famous scientist Charles Darwin and his explorations, each page supported by a colourful illustration. Darwin was a failed scholar, whose curiosity lead him to set sail on the HMS Beagle. His adventures aboard were to take him to South America, surveying the coasts of Brazil and Argentina, and also to visit the Falkland and Galapagos islands.

This super book, tells its reader all about many of Darwin's plant and animal discoveries, his studies and the conclusions he makes when he returns to England, and ultimately the book he writes that rocks the Christian faith completely. I particularly liked the way each page is not only packed with interesting facts and details but most also have a 'main significant' piece of information written in a larger font too. For instance: 'Darwin's father accused him of wasting time instead of studying'; 'Giant Tortoises, like the ones Darwin saw, can live for over a hundred years'; and 'What Darwin called 'Natural selection' might explain how new species began to emerge'. This will allow even the weakest of readers to enjoy looking through the pictures and gleaning the main points, while the quality of the information and language used will also make it a great text to use for group and whole class reading and discussion. The useful glossary and time line will inevitably be a bonus for the reader.

This is most definitely a book worth reading; adult and child readers alike will enjoy the clear and informative text. A highly recommended read.

80 pages / Ages 7 - Adult / Reviewed by Samantha Phillips, teacher