The Tree of Life

Written & illustrated by Peter Sís

Explore the life of a revolutionary thinker who changed our view of nature.

4.1/5 Goodreads · 524 ratings

44 pages· 1,736 words· Est. 14 min read-aloud

$24.99Save 7%

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Bookroo's summary

Embark on a visual journey through Charles Darwin's life, from his curious childhood to his groundbreaking voyage on the Beagle. Discover how his independent thinking and passion for nature's mysteries shaped our understanding of the world. Through intricate illustrations and personal writings, delve into the mind of a genius who forever altered the course of science. What secrets will you uncover in this beautifully crafted exploration of Darwin's legacy?

From the publisher

In this brilliant presentation of a revolutionary thinker’s life, the picture book becomes an art form

As far as I can judge, I am not apt to follow blindly the lead of other men . . .

Charles Darwin was, above all else, an independent thinker who continues even now to influence the way we look at the natural world. His endless curiosity and passion for detail resulted in a wealth of notebooks, diaries, correspondence, and published writings that Peter Sís transforms into a visual treasure trove. A multilayered journey through Darwin’s world, The Tree of Life begins with his childhood and traces the arc of his life through university and career, following him around the globe on the voyage of the Beagle, and home to a quiet but momentous life devoted to science and family. Sís uses his own singular vision to create a gloriously detailed panorama of a genius’s trajectory through investigating and understanding the mysteries of nature. In pictures executed in fine pen and ink and lush watercolors – cameo portraits, illustrated pages of diary, cutaway views of the Beagle, as well as charts, maps, and a gatefold spread – Peter Sís has shaped a wondrous introduction to Charles Darwin. This title has Common Core connections.

The Tree of Life is a 2003 New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year and Notable Children’s Book of the Year, and a 2004 Bank Street - Best Children’s Book of the Year.