Moth, An Evolution Story is part evolution, illustrated art and all fab

One great thing about children’s books is that it can educate and entertain readers about the most unlikely topics. For example we have a book about flies that both kids have read and we’ll continue to keep it for their kids in twenty years or so. Moth, An Evolution Story by Isabel Thomas and Daniel Egnues is another such book. Moths are the light beer of the insect world. They’re the annoying creatures that eat sweaters and the enemy of cedar closets everywhere. And now, it’s an absolutely amazing illustrated book that’s not at all what you expect with timeless art that will make it a mandatory entry into your children’s library of ‘keeper’ books.

The guide through the book is the peppered moth. Peppered moths apparently have a large disparity in their black and white allotment, with some looking like spotted zebras and others resembling patchy black panthers, albeit with wings and weighing an ounce just after they eat a huge meal.   Here I thought they were simply these flittering creatures that tried to make holes in my clothing, but nay.

Moths have been evolving, thus the title, Moth, An Evolution Story. The Peppered Moth started out one way, which had its own benefits, but then changed. This evolution created a period of chaos for some moths. They were able to be seen by different predators, but more easily obscured by others who used to eat them.

The only constant is change, isn’t it? Children will pick up on the fact that a Peppered Moth isn’t the most spectacular animal. They’re a common thing, quite innocuous really, they make noise when they bonk against the window while being attracted to the light on the other side. However, even the common fluttering, sweater eating creature outside of the house has changed-what you’re going through or thinking about is normal and expected.

The change aspect is one way to look at Moth, An Evolution Story. There is also the science aspect that younger science minded kids will look at the book from. There are also those artistic kids who will be drawn in to the book through its illustrations. The illustrations are gorgeous and look three-dimensional. Looking at these illustrations and then other children’s illustrated books is akin to looking at the animation in Toy Story 4 and Toy Story. This is a book where you’ll come for the story, but stay for the art OR, come for the art and stay for the story.

Moth, An Evolution Story is as balanced as it can be between art and story. Either way that you look at the book from, it’s fascinating, educational, beautiful or one that young readers will effortlessly follow you with.