A book review of Evolution Under Pressure: How We Change Nature and How Nature Changes Us by Yolanda Ridge
Stars: ****
Annick Press (2023)
Children’s Nonfiction>Science
120 pages
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links.
Summary: Evolution isn’t just a thing of the past. It is happening right now, in every species across the world–and our influence on the future of the plants and animals around us is much bigger than we might think. A closer look at the science behind evolution shows how human behaviors like hunting, farming, and urban development have contributed to major physical changes in everything from rhinos to pigs to lizards. And these changes impact us in turn–triggering environmental shifts and contributing to climate change. The good news is there’s hope: by learning to see how everything is connected, we can weigh the consequences of our choices and help shape a world that works for plants, animals, and humans alike.
Making connections across anthropology, biology, and ecology, award-winning author Yolanda Ridge takes an intersectional approach to a challenging topic–examining the factors that influence human behavior while looking forward to explain the changes we can make and the ethics of those choices. Profiles of young activists and innovators highlight the ways readers can contribute to restoring ecological balance, while vibrant illustrations by Dane Thibeault evoke the energy and beauty of the natural world we are working to preserve.
Evolution Under Pressure
Evolution is interesting but also a complicated subject for children (and adults!) This book goes over how selection drives evolution and then discusses specific examples. Chapters are about Rhinos, Pigs, Moths and Lizards.
The book is full-colour with beautiful illustrations by Dane Thibeault. There are little Did You Know? sidebars. It seems long but the words aren’t too small so I’d say a reader age 9 or up could get through the book. I learned a bit while reading this book and it would make a great addition to a school library or homeschool library.
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