Moth: An Evolution Story

Good book

Why we chose this book:Nature literature? Always on my radar, and the synopsis for Moth sounded special. Bloomsbury Children's Books provided a review copy in exchange for an honest review.Mom's ReviewBeautiful and captivating, Moth introduces young readers to evolution and environmentalism through narrative. T loved the pictures and said he enjoyed the story, but he didn't understand how evolution worked after our initial read. This was no surprise. Throughout the day we continued to talk about camouflage, babies looking like their parents, and animals likely to get eaten. With leading questions and conversation, he learned the basic concept. I was impressed when he connected the evolution of one animal to the impact it has on the greater food chain: "But if all the moths and worms are black, and the birds can't see them, what will the birds eat? Won't they starve and die?"Moth tells the story of the peppered moth's evolution. Prior to the industrial revolution, the moths had speckled wings, which provided camouflage on lichen-colored trees. Pollution from industry killed the lichen, so birds easily caught speckled moths, but not charcoal-colored moths; thus, the moths evolved to predominantly charcoal-covered wings. Thomas explains in understandable terms that this happened because the darker moths were not caught and were able to have babies, and their offspring resembled themselves. Jump ahead to today, when we have restrictions on pollution; we learn that the moths have evolved again. At present, both speckled and charcoal peppered moths can be found. Thomas closes her book with an encouragement to look for moths in the wild. Back matter provides more specifics on the evolution of the peppered moth.Also on my blog: Glass of Wine, Glass of Milk

The story of the peppered moth is not just one of nature, but one about adaptation, change, evolution, and hope. As our growing environment changes, so must the insects that live within it. Breathtaking illustrations light up the night sky with the beauty of peppered moths in both their light and dark form, teaching readers the power behind environmental changes and the need for species adaptationA perfect library shelf addition for any nature lover, or teacher, Moth An Evolution Story is a splendid display of change, hope, and survival.

I have tried a few different children’s books that attempt to introduce the basic concept of evolution, and this one was definitely the best. The art is beautiful, the story is clear and concise, and there is a 2-page narrative at the end that goes into a bit more detail without being overwhelming. The author even managed to work in a positive message of hope, and mentioned Alfred Russel Wallace alongside Charles Darwin.

This is such a great book about evolving species; the illustrations are so rich, definitely a new favorite in our house.