Moth: An Evolution Story

by Isabel Thomas, Daniel Egnéus (Illustrator)

Overview

“A rare pleasure … a true story of adaptation and hope.” —Wall Street Journal


Powerful and visually spectacular, Moth is the remarkable evolution story that captures the struggle of animal survival against the background of an evolving human world in a unique and atmospheric introduction to Darwin's theory of Natural Selection.

“This is a story of light and dark…”

Against a lush backdrop of lichen-covered trees, the peppered moth lies hidden. Until the world begins to change...

Along come people with their magnificent machines which stain the land with soot. In a beautiful landscape changed by humans how will one little moth survive?

A clever picture book text about the extraordinary way in which animals have evolved, intertwined with the complication of human intervention. This remarkable retelling of the story of the peppered moth is the perfect introduction to natural selection and evolution for children.

A 2020 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books Finalist!
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2019!
A Horn Book Best Book of 2019!
A Shelf Awareness Best Book of 2019!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781547600205
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	06/25/2019
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	682,890
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	6 - 10 Years

About the Author

Isabel Thomas studied Human Sciences at the University of Oxford. She is a science writer and children's author who has been shortlisted for the Royal Society Young People's Book Prize, the ASE Science Book of the Year, and the Blue Peter Book Awards. Isabel also writes for children's science magazine Whizz Pop Bang, and for science outreach projects. She is a primary school governor and STEM Ambassador.

Illustrator Daniel Egneus is a rising star in the book world. Most recently he illustrated the UK edition of Neil Gaiman's American Gods. He has also worked on the Raven Child and the Snow Witch, as well as The Thing. He is a well-regarded fashion artist, regularly illustrating for the likes of Chanel, H&M, Nike and many more.

Editorial Reviews

04/08/2019

Silvery, incandescent cover art will entice readers to this story of adaptation and the peppered moths of England. Thomas (the Little Guides to Great Lives series) introduces natural selection through a lyrical telling of the moth’s history from the early 19th century on. The narrative recounts how the population of light peppered moths thrived, able to rest “on lichen-covered branches” until the Industrial Revolution, when dark peppered moths increased, owing to their ability to camouflage against polluted landscapes. (“A bird went hunting for a snack./ Now the world was darker./ Which moths were disguised?/ Which moths would survive?”) Today, thanks to cleaner forms of energy, both variations “find places to hide and survive.” Mixed media and digital illustrations by Egnéus (These Are Animals) show the mottled, wispy figures—the wing patterns resemble intricate tree silhouettes—against bold splashes of color and patterns. The elegant moth images can seem slightly at odds with the cartoonlike depictions of people and environs, but an evolving color palette (from light to dark and back to light) and dynamic juxtaposing of hues create a sophisticated effect. Back matter further defines the concepts presented in this eye-catching introduction to Darwinian evolution. Ages 6–10. (June)

Publishers Weekly

* From its striking silver-plated cover on, this is a stunner. . . A gorgeous blend of text and illustrations and a wonderfully successful introduction to nonfiction for younger readers.” - Booklist, starred review

“* Gorgeous mixed-media illustrations . . . Thomas deftly builds an easily understandable explanation of natural selection into the well-paced narrative.” - Horn Book Magazine, starred review

“* A strikingly illustrated story of survival and adaptation.” - Foreword Reviews, starred review

“* This superb book, with its message of hope, is a standout.” - School Library Connection, starred review

“* Egnéus creates stunning visuals that feel soft and organic, yet also intricate and precise…. A deeply fulfilling look at the ups and downs of natural selection.” - Shelf Awareness, starred review

“Egnéus' lovely illustrations—in traditional mixed media and Photoshop—provide a stylized overview of the moth's adaptive journey. . . A fascinating story with striking visuals.” - Kirkus Reviews

“This text will enhance any juvenile nonfiction collection.” - School Library Journal

“This stylish, atmospheric picture book . . . adds nuance to evolution books for children.” - BCCB

“Sophisticated effect . . . Eye-catching introduction to Darwinian evolution.” - Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher

06/01/2019

PreS-Gr 1—Thomas and Egnéus show how adaptation and natural selection work in the evolutionary process in order to change a species. In Great Britain, when industry heavily relied on coal, environmental factors affected the survival rates of the peppered moth, because predators could now see what was once camouflaged. The text and illustrations are clear and move at a steady pace with a summary in the back matter, which solidifies the content. Despite the lack of source material, the value of this text is high. Children will understand how the environment can change an animal's survival rate and the passing of its genetic information. Moths as a subject do not usually garner high circulation rates, but if this book is placed in a display, the cover will attract attention. The illustrations throughout are mixed media, but the cover literally shines: silvery moths against a night sky is an attention grabber. Originally published in Great Britain in 2018, this text will enhance any juvenile nonfiction collection. VERDICT Buy this title for its clear presentation.—Nancy Call, formerly at Santa Cruz Public Libraries, Aptos, CA

School Library Journal

2019-03-17
Thomas presents the peppered moth as an emblem of natural selection, tracking its adaptations during the Industrial Revolution and beyond.

The moth's striking salt-and-pepper scales, which enhanced its camouflage during daytime rests on lichen, became an impediment as late-19th-century industrial pollution prevailed. As lichens died and industrial soot blackened tree bark, the species' occasional dark moth's advantages resulted in an adaptation. With the light, speckled moths more easily spotted and eaten by prey, surviving dark moths procreated, dominating the species within a 50-year time span. In turn, the answering trend toward pollution mitigation swung the pendulum back. Lichens reappeared, soot-stained bark fell away, and the light moths' camouflage value reasserted itself, with both dark and light moths seen today. Thomas narrates this biological success story in past tense and simple, declarative prose. Egnéus' lovely illustrations—in traditional mixed media and Photoshop—provide a stylized overview of the moth's adaptive journey. The bilateral symmetry of the peppered moth's wing coloration is ignored in favor of exquisite, dark umber-and-gray montages evoking dry-brushed ink blots and sun-dappled botanical silhouettes. Forest tableaux yield to industrialization's coal-powered factories and locomotives, Egnéus' palette morphs from natural hues to rust-red and soot-black—and back, to today's tentative, hopeful blues. (Depicted humans are light-skinned and red-nosed.) An inspired choice for text type (Tom's New Roman) and a gorgeous, silver-embellished cover enhance the package.

A fascinating story with striking visuals. (author's note) (Informational picture book. 5-9)

Kirkus Reviews