Absolutely Everything! A History of Earth, Dinosaurs, Rulers, Robots and Other Things Too Numerous to Mention

This ambitious volume chronicles life on Earth as we know it, beginning with the big bang. Chronologically, Lloyd covers dinosaurs, the birth of modern humans, ancient civilizations, classical empires, the industrial revolution, and both world wars. Timelines, illustrations, photographs, charts, maps, and other infographics supply a welcome visual element. A final chapter discusses landmark modern events (including the U.N.’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Neil Armstrong’s landing on the moon, and the arrival of the first personal computer). Readers will garner a basic understanding of the scope of geological time, the progression of human civilization, and (although the content skews somewhat toward the Western world) defining historical moments, while the brief presentation is just enough to spark readers’ interest in learning more. Ages 9–12. [em](Oct.) [/em]