November 2023 Book of the Month

Category: Biology, Library, Monthly Book Reviews, Science

Explodapedia: Evolution and How We Came to Be by Ben Martynoga (illustrated by Moose Allain)

It’s only right that in Non-Fiction November, the national celebration of all things factual, we should take a break from fiction.  This month I’d like to recommend a title from the Explodapedia series which was sent to me to review by LoveReading4Schools.  Explodapedia is the brainchild of neuroscientist and science writer Ben Martynoga.  As a writer he wants to take the biggest ideas in biology and share them with you.  As he explains, the future of life will soon be passed into your hands.  In this title, he takes on Evolution. 

When I talk to students who don’t like books, they often say that reading doesn’t entertain them.  Well, this book does entertain.  I was quickly drawn into the narrative, racing through each chapter to learn new facts.  The writer manages to explain complicated theories with ease and simplicity.  I also wanted to linger on each page to look at the brilliance of Moose Allain’s illustrations.  There is a lot of scientific detail in here which will satisfy all aspiring Biologists.  The exhaustive timeline and comprehensive glossary and index elevate this engaging book into a top-quality work of non-fiction.

And yet, it’s also accessible and entertaining enough for a casual reader to enjoy dipping into.  The humour and excellent illustrations really bring this book to life.  I particularly loved the talking fly who accompanies you on this exploration of evolution. 

This is a welcome addition to our Biology section and I’ll be buying the other books in the series too:

The Cell:  The Heart of All Life

The Gene: What Makes You, You

Rewild: Can Nature Heal our World? Entertaining