“All of us are part of an old, old family. The roots of our family tree reach way back to the beginning of life on earth.” Lisa Westberg Peters’s poetic narrative begins with a description of “tiny round cells in the deep, dark sea” and follows the course of human evolution. An effective pattern of contrast and compare highlights differences and similarities of each stage in the evolutionary process to the way humans are today: “On the outside, we still had scales...On the inside, we had lungs to breathe oxygen, like we do now.” The poetic text is grounded in science, with more detailed scientific information provided in a two-page section that follows the main narrative. A timeline is also included. Lauren Stringer’s deep-hued palette gives a lush feel to the artwork for this singular volume. (Ages 5–10)