When the Whales Walked: And Other Incredible Evolutionary Journeys

Gr 2-5--Dixon composes an examination of evolution, first laying the foundation of its basic concepts and then portraying a detailed description of the minuscule changes that happened over many millions of years for all manner of organisms. If the intriguing title isn't enough to entice readers, the attractive, detailed art should capture kids' eyes. However, after initial impressions pass it may be a bit more difficult to progress. The information is solid and the illustrations are nicely detailed, but at times the language and descriptions are a bit dry. The pronunciation guides are a welcome addition, but are typically present only in the profile boxes for the various creatures--occasionally there are words within the body paragraphs that could've used the same treatment. The author's passion for the subject manifests in occasional bursts of excitement, typically with fun comparisons to modern-day examples. VERDICT A solid addition to any collection and a great primer for evolution, even if it drags a little bit at times.--Sean Dorsey, Suffolk Public Library, VA