FROM LAVA TO LIFE
The Universe Tells Our Earth Story
Topics covered:
Beginning of life
Bacteria
Oxygen crisis
Eucaryotes
Nucleus
Multicellular life
Amphibians
Reptiles
Dinosaurs
Mammals
Extinction of dinosaurs
Paperback $9.95 ISBN: 1-58469-042-9
Hardback $19.95 ISBN: 1-58469-043-7
Published by Dawn Publications (DawnPub.com)
A review by April Whitt in PLANETARIAN: JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL PLANETARIUM SOCIETY (June 2003)
This second book of Jennifer Morgan's science trilogy begins with the formation of Earth. Utilizing the same large format, brightly colored illustrations and lovingly crafted text, the reader is drawn into the story of life.
Tension between growth and habitat, adaptaion of the first organisms to the poisonous clouds of oxygen that accumulated, and everything operating under solar power keep the story lively.
The rise of multi-celled organisms, then plants and fungi, through insects, fish, and amphibians to reptiles culminates with dinosaurs, birds and early mammals. The meteorite impact that decimated life described and the Universe exclaims, "There was Earth, once again, smack in the middle of another disaster."
LAVA TO LIFE contains the same wonderful features that impressed me in BORN WITH A BANG. Large, colorful paintings illustrate the book. A time-line across the tops of the pages begins with "molten Earth" and counts toward animals and plants. At the bottom of each page is the science concept referenced in the appendices. The summary page of "I learned . . ." ends with "By the way, did you notice that I left lots of fossil clues around for Earthling scientists to piece together my story? Pretty neat, isn't it?