Out of the Blue: How Animals Evolved from Prehistoric Seas

by Elizabeth Shreeve

Graceful, succinct prose and engaging illustrations trace the evolution of life on Earth out of the blue and back again.Clear and inviting nonfiction prose, vetted by scientists—together with lively illustrations and a time line—narrate how life on Earth emerged “out of the blue.” It began in the vast, empty sea when Earth was young. Single-celled microbes too small to see held the promise of all life-forms to come. Those microbes survived billions of years in restless seas until they began to change, to convert sunlight into energy, to produce oxygen until one day—Gulp!—one cell swallowed another, and the race was on. Learn how and why creatures began to emerge from the deep—from the Cambrian Explosion to crustaceans, mollusks to fishes, giant reptiles to the rise of mammals—and how they compare to the animals we know today, in a lively and accessible outing into the prehistoric past that boils a complex subject down to its lyrical essence.

Genres: Nonfiction, Picture Books, Science, Animals, Evolution, Nature, Stem

32 pages, Paperback

Published July 7, 2022

About the author

Elizabeth Shreeve is the author of several books for young readers, including the chapter book series the Adventures of Hector Fuller and two picture books, Captain Freddy Counts Down to School, illustrated by Joey Chou, and Oliver at the Window, illustrated by Candace Hartsough McDonald. She lives in Northern California.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does a fairly decent job conveying the complex information to this age group and held the interest of my young audience.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A big hit with my almost 5yo dino lover. It’s Dino-adjacent while still learning new things.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This picture book is a 3.5 for me. I was impressed with the color-drenched digital illustrations and the accessible text. Both contribute to make this particular topic easier to understand than many texts. The fact that the book begins with a question about the possible relationship among three different species: a hippo, a dolphin, and a shark. While it might seem obvious from a first glance that the dolphin and the shark are related, that isn't the case, and then the remainder of the book proceeds to explain the history of life on Earth over billions of years. There are labels at the bottom of several pages as the text describes how the microbes in Earth's oceans in the Archean eon slowly evolved into something else, and then that something else evolved into something else, and on and on, all the way to the Cenozoic era when mammals began, some choosing life on land and others moving back into the ocean. Of course, all of this is fascinating stuff, sure to intrigue anyone with the slightest interest in science or anyone with an imagination. Thinking about periods when many species became extinct and the planet changed is especially important today as the effects of humans threaten the Earth's future. It is likely that many young readers will be mesmerized by the book's pages and filled with a sense of wonder about how all of this happened. It certainly puts the supposed superiority of humans in perspective.

[books.bintulu · Rating 3 out of 5]

June 2023: Out of The Blue

This book begins with a question:

Which two of these animals are the closest relatives?

Hippo 🦛 Shark 🦈 Dolphin 🐬
???

The book starts with the Archaean Eon (4 to 2.5 billion years ago🤯) when the earth was young and inhibited by single-celled microbes in the vast sea. The story then moves to the next era until Cenozoic Era (66 million years to present) with animals evolving and adapting.

So many creatures with tongue-twisting names in this book. I wonder how scientists/archaeologists found these million years of fossils.

"Our bodies show the fish inside us".

The most sensational info from this book!🤯 This book will assist to explain science that is beyond our imagination with wonderful illustrations. I am drawn to this one shark called Helicoprion for its unique tooth whorls.

There is a page of references at the end for further reading.

[Bethe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like a bright colorful walk through a natural history museum, the reader sees life literally grow and walk out of the watery depths. The pictures are cute, bright and engaging. This is the first time I’ve heard that fish fins became human limbs, our teeth come from fish scales, and fills evolves into jaws, ears, and throats. Also never heard of the Great Dying at the end of Permian Period. Selected sources in the back matter, acknowledgements mention the scientists who reviewed the content.

[Christine Zandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before the text begins, Elizabeth Shreeve’s nonfiction picture book cleverly has readers guess, among hippos, dolphins, and sharks, which two animals are the closest relatives? For the answer, you’ll have to read the book!

Shreeve impressively chronicles life on Earth from its beginning until present. Yet, for such an intricate topic, her kid-friendly text is easy to follow. Readers wanting more data can reference the time periods (noted at the bottom) or learn from the notes accompanying various creatures. The back matter includes sources and further reading.

The illustrations add drama and dimension showing lava-flowing eruptions and the starkness of what scientists call the Great Dying when temperatures soared and life perished. However, most of the art depicts brightly colored celebrations of the wonderful creatures that have inhabited our planet. I like how sketches are used in the sidebar to demonstrate, for example, the size of a prehistoric dragonfly in comparison to a human. (These insects grew huge because of the abundant oxygen levels.)

Information is conveyed in an exciting manner, encouraging page turns to discover the changes of life on Earth while also learning the answer to the opening question. This comprehensive reference book will engage curious young readers.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

How are a dolphin, a shark and a hippo related? Well, first it started billions of years ago with single cell microbes living in the seas. They evolved into Jellyfish and sponges, which over millions of years evolved into mollusks, and annelid worms and echinoderms. Some were the predators, some were prey and each evolved over millions of years, eventually moving from the sea to the shore. More evolution brought scorpions on land and sea spiders and horseshoe crabs in the sea. Then, over millions of years bugs (both on land and in the sea) evolve and mollusks from the sea evolve into snails with lungs. Then fish, then amphibians and reptiles, an extinction, then dinosaurs, and another great extinction, then mammals, like the dolphin (water) and hippo (land).

Beautiful illustrations complement the scientist reviewed and well sourced picture book. There is text all over the page - a section of the story, but then "more facts" and names. The period and how many million years ago is easy to spot on every 2 page spread. A great introduction to evolution, with so many ancient animals!

Cross posted to http://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com

[Eve Costarelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a way to bring science to life! This book is presented with such care to bring forth how life began, filled with an impressive vocabulary that ties the authenticity of the facts to the awe inspiring illustrations. I love the organization of the book in timeline form. It helps to keep the facts in order and to follow the growth of life from the ocean to land and back again-Always changing. Always evolving. The variety of images and facts that are provided in these pages will attract not only the eyes of the young and curious but of the old and curious too. I couldn’t put it down. This is a book of survival and determination to thrive. It is a perfect gift for anyone who is curious and loves amazing illustrations of water creaties, bugs and land animals. This is a fabulous STEAM book. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Candlewick Press for sending me this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Ann Jacobus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gem of a picture book condenses about 635 million years plus of geological and biological history into 32 beguilingly illustrated pages. We start with life first appearing on our planet in the roiling seas between 4 and 2.5 billion years ago, and explore the Ediacaran, Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, Carboniferous, and Permian Periods, and then, of course, the Jurassic Period, and the Cenozoic, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic Eras. But this info runs along the bottom of the pages for those of us who missed paleontology, geology and/or prehistoric biology. The text for young scientists in development is simple, clear, and straightforward and traces the evolution of all life forms on our planet, from single-cell microbes to our present Age of Mammals, packing much information and perspective into few words. Recommended for all ages.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is hard to put an age range on this beautifully illustrated look at evolution from the single celled ocean-bound microbes 4-2.5 billion years ago until the world is covered with a myriad of beings in the sea, air and land in the present day. The bold, digitally created art is sure to draw the eye of the youngest of book lovers but while the text is seldom more than a few sentences, the concepts and vocabulary are suited to far older children. However, those looking to put more non-fiction picture books into the hands of children or are doing read alouds with those PK and up, Shreeve’s work will definitely stimulate conversation and Frann Preston-Gannon’s illustrations will capture the attention of all. Backmatter includes sources and additional books on the topic as well as author acknowledgements.

Thanks for sending a finished copy to me for review, Candlewick Press.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was received as an ARC from Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was so much fun to read that it was unlike any science j non-fiction book I have ever read. Because it was unique, I believe our children will enjoy it more. The illustrations and pictures displayed in this book were so fun to look at and I believe this is what it means to have fun while learning. Our first graders do a huge ocean project at the end of the year and this book will definitely be of their assistance. Also, this book will just be popular for children to read as well.

We will consider adding this title to our J Non-Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

[Nell · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you need a clear and fun way to teach kids about the origin of life as we know it, look no further than Out of the Blue! This beautiful and lyrical picture book opens with a simple question about three well-known animals: the shark, the dolphin, and the hippo. Which two are the closest relatives? Find out with gorgeous artwork and a kid-friendly text describing life’s beginnings in the oceans, the bizarre (to the human mind) world of Pre-Cambrian times, and the amazing Cambrian Period when animal groups took shape. Follow these groups as they make their way onto land, with a surprising answer to the original question at the end. Kids of all ages, from 5 to 105, will enjoy learning from this wonderful book.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to begin a new study of evolution, start with this book, a picture book filled with so much information through the use of a timeline and text by Elizabeth Shreeve and beautifully detailed illustrations created by Frann Preston-Gannon. You will re-read the text, working your own imagination of that time of the Archean Eon (4 to 2.5 billion years ago) and pore over the pictures, watching microbes change until "Gulp! One microbe swallowed another." And they evolved. There's a list of further resources, for older and younger, at the back, along with acknowledgments. It is one wonder of a resource!
Thanks to Candlewick Press for the copy.

[Debra Shumaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a book! From a prehistoric and vast, empty sea to life as we know it today, this book covers it in small, easy to grasp chunks of information. I can see kids devouring this book over and over again, gleaning new facts with each read. The author starts with a question: between the hippo, dolphin, and shark, which two are most closely related? And continues through each period of history of the earth, with creatures coming out of the blue, evolving. . . and going back to the sea again. The illustrations are stunning!

[Laura Salas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how Shreeve's dramatic text puts the reader right into the journey of life evolving from the oceans onto land. Preston-Gannon's art feels both scientifically accurate but also kid-friendly. On some spreads, the layout feels a bit confusing to me--I wanted more differentiation between the layers of text (main text, labels, and sort of sidebar/labels), for instance, and the mammal diagram doesn't quite work for me. But overall, this is a glorious exploration, explanation, and celebration of the beginning of life on our planet!

[Laura Perdew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evolution is such a complex topic, but this book makes it accessible to kids. And their adults! And while it is packed with information, it reads like a story. Full of engaging text and vivid descriptions, this book is a marvelous example of the best children’s #NF has to offer. The beautiful illustrations (who knew odd, prehistoric creatures could be cute?) add another layer wonder and information. This will surely be the go-to book for educators and parents when teaching evolution.

[Maria George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork. This may be a children's book, but people of all ages can appreciate this. It takes the vastness of the history of life and breaks it down into simple steps and major events. This book is a great jumping off point for exploring so many great topics: evolution, taxonomy, geology, anatomy, etc. There's a nice list at the end of the book of reference material for adults or children to explore the ideas further.

[Kathryn L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great way to enjoy this gorgeously written and illustrated book is to watch the video the author prepared, in which she discusses--in a way engaging both to young readers and adults-- how she interacted with scientists to focus in accurately on the key points to share with young readers. The video is posted on her website at elizabethshreeve.com.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding take on a tough topic that kids really want to know about. From starting with an intriguing question to hook the reader even before the title page to the beautiful illustrations that complement and extend the text, this is a winner. I can’t wait to use this as an anchor text in my fourth grade science classroom as we look at geologic time and fossils.

[Suebee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've never seen a children's book on this topic so well done. The bottom of each 2-page spread names the prehistoric era and gives a timeline for the creatures that appear on each page.

The only thing I would have liked to see would be one more 2-page spread on human's development (which, I know, is a relative blip in the span of time).

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it and learned something new, but not sure it's a first purchase for my 560 shelf. Not a fan of art. Animal/science books in my collection with art in this style sit on the shelves. Great topic and beginning question. Loved that, but I felt like the text was just a bit too succinct and best for devout fans of prehistoric life as a public library borrow.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
I read a digital advanced copy courtesy of the publisher and Edelweiss
Using language that kids can understand (and adults) Shreeve takes us through the evolution of the first single-celled organisms through the age of the mammals. From a scientific standpoint, readers can see the connections from the living creatures of millions of years ago and their modern "cousins"

[Maggie Panning · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, but it is slightly less clear than other books on the same topic. I'm glad that we read it but I am also glad that we checked this one out from the library and didn't purchase it.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful factual, lyrical and playful explanation of how we evolved from microbes to crustaceans to fishes to mammals. Who knew evolution could be so much fun! And the illustrations are stunning.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging introduction to evolution. Starts by asking which are the two most closely related among a dolphin, hippo and shark. Then starting from life beginning in Earth's seas with microbes, it takes the reader through the evolution of mammals.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book looks to be very educational, and I just skimmed to read it. I am doing research for summer reading storytimes, and unfortunately, this book is way too long for the children that I am doing stories for.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The back blurb says, "this lively and accessible look into a prehistoric past that boils a complex subject own to its lyrical essence," and while "lyrical essence" feels like an overstatement, it does do a fairly good job of condensing 4 billion years into something kids can follow reasonably well.

There's explanatory text embedded in the illustrations, so you can read just the main text to younger/first-time readers and add in the additional information based on your kid's interest (my partner also noted that they're often helpful answers to a child-reader's potential "what's that?" questions). Though I sometimes missed pieces of the main text because I was reading the extra text -- and I'm not entirely sure how you're supposed to read aloud the sequence of "That group splits . . . and splits again . . ." that shows us how hippos and dolphins are related.

Edit: Betsy Bird notes, "It has to conflate a lot of time together, so if you’re looking for something a little more complete I’d go with Life: The First Four Billion Years by Martin Jenkins." So I got that book out from the library as well. Wow is it lorge! PenguinRandomHouse indicates it's 80 Pages, 11-7/16 x 13-7/8 inches, and for readers age 10-14 years.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute! I enjoyed this read, and learning more about the animals, and using the timeline to find out about their periods.

Great for young readers, although having a glossary with the meaning of some terms would be useful.

New edition coming out on 18 June 2024.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Brenda Kahn]

This age-appropriate introduction to the billions of years of the evolution of life on Earth is beautifully illustrated. It should invoke a sense of wonder in young readers.