KIDSSPRING2022US

14 New and Forthcoming Evolutions Raphaël Martin & Henri Cap, illustrated by Fred L. Go on a journey of over four billion years to unravel the mysteries of evolution, the natural phenomenon that explains the wonderful diversity of the living world From the infinitely small to the infinitely large, young readers will discover the fascinating story of life Straightforward nonfiction text with critical information that includes viruses and elite parasites as well as the characteristics of bacteria and archaea Where do our eyes come from? And our lungs, have we inherited them from ancient fish? Why do we look so much like some monkeys? To unravel this mystery, follow our two little heroes through time! They will bring you back through the course of evolution, a natural phenomenon that has lasted for hundreds of millions of years, which every part of our body tells in its own way. From chapter to chapter, the reader understands that each part of his body comes to him from distant ancestors, some of them very surprising, such as archaea, viruses, jellyfish—or even strange fish from the oceans. Everything is clearly explained with the help of small paragraphs and very playful and educational illustrations by a team of three authors: a journalist, a specialist researcher, and a designer illustrator, which allow children to learn while having fun. ISBN: 978-0-7643-6386-3 Size: 9 1/2" x 13" (241 x 330 mm) Pages: 40 Binding: hardcover Illustrations: 16 color images Price: $18.99 US Age Range: 7 to 10 years Lexile: 970L BISAC: JUVENILE NONFICTION / Science & Nature / History of Science E-book ISBN: 978-1-5073-0268-2 AVAILABLE MAY Raphaël Martin is the author of children’s documentaries. Expert on many subjects, he particularly knows everything related to evolution, one of his great passions. Henri Cap has a doctorate in ethology. After studying at the Natural History Museum in Paris, he worked at the Toulouse Museum. Fred L. has been a children’s author and illustrator since 2005. He likes to mix humor, adventure, poetry, and reflections on di erence. Raphaël Martin & Henri Cap, illustrated by Fred L. ISBN 978-0-7643-6386-3 Words followed by an asterisk (*) are defined in the glossary. PRIMATES: SKILLED HANDS AND PIERCING EYES The Opposable Thumb and 3-D Vision – p. 28 TETRAPODS AND THE CONQUEST OF DRY LAND! Arms and Legs – p. 24 STANDING: THE BIPEDS Bipedalism – p. 30 WHEN SKELETONS ARRIVED ! The Spinal Column – p. 22 MAMMALS: FUR AND MILK Hair and Udders – p. 26 WHAT IS A LIVING BEING? Fungi, plants, bacteria, and animals, including humans, are all living beings. These organisms are made up of one or more cells* that produce energy and different substances essential to life. In each cell there is a molecule called DNA*, which contains, in the form of the form of genes, the information necessary for its operation and its reproduction*. Thus, the color of a child’s eyes or the shape of a zebra’s stripes depend on that of his parents! OVERVIEW Where do our eyes come from? And our lungs—did we inherit them from ancient fish? Why do we look so much like certain monkeys? To unravel this mystery, follow our two little heroes through time! They will take you along the thread of evolution, a natural phenomenon that has lasted for hundreds of millions of years and explains how each part of our body tells us something in its own way. THE EUKARYOTIC CELL: IT’S ALL IN THE NUCLEUS! Cells with a Nucleus – p. 18 VIRUSES, ELITE PARASITES Genes – p. 14 THE BEGINNINGS OF LIFE Molecules – p. 12 BACK TO THE ORIGINS OF THE WORLD Atoms – p. 10 THE TIME OF ARCHAEA AND BACTERIA The First Cells – p. 16 WHICH WAS THE FIRST ANIMAL? Linked Cells and Nerve Cells – p. 20 VIRUSES, ELITE PARASITES GENEROUS GENE DONORS Of human DNA, 50% is believed to come from viruses. But there is something even more surprising . . . Why don’t mammals, which are the cousins of lizards or turtles, lay eggs like them? It is because of a virus that, by modifying their DNA a very long time ago, gave them the ability to make a placenta, an organ to feed the embryo in the womb. YOUR PAPERS, PLEASE! Certain DNA sequences that we inherited from viruses, called transposable elements or “transposons,” constitute our “genetic fingerprint”: it is used to identify certain criminals who had the bad luck to lose a hair or a drop of blood at the crime scene! Baby elephants, like human babies, develop in their mother’s womb thanks to the placenta. Most mammals are the same; they no longer lay eggs, which are too easily devoured by predators.  Viruses have been part of the great history of life for billions of years. Their specialty? To live on cells a thousand times bigger than themselves in order to reproduce. 3.5 BILLION YEARS? Influenza, AIDS, and hepatitis all are diseases transmitted by viruses. These membrane-equipped parasites* have found a very effective method of reproduction. By injecting their DNA or RNA genes into a cell, they reprogram it to make millions of other viruses. A real infection! In Latin, virus means—poison.  14 BACK TO THE ORIGINS OF THE WORLD WE ARE ALL CHNOPS CHNOPS is the acronym of the main atoms that compose all living beings. They also are the result of the Big Bang: carbon (C), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) . . . SULFUR We find this atom in the atmosphere as well as at the bottom of the oceans or volcanoes, and even in the hemoglobin that makes up part of our blood. MOLECULES, CHAINS OF ATOMS Iron, chlorine, silver, helium . . . there are a total of 118 atoms. These microscopic elements have the power to join together to form molecules. Some are essential for living organisms: water, sugars, fats, and proteins*, for example. PHOSPHORUS It has contributed to the adventure of life from the beginning. It is one of the main components of DNA. 11 TO E ORIGINS The Big Bang, an explosion of unprecedented violence, gave birth to the universe 13.7 billion years ago. Since then, space has continued to expand. Stars, planets, and other celestial bodies are constantly forming there—among them, the Earth, which is about 4.5 billion years old. The Big Bang is also at the origin of that which composes all matter, from the stars to living beings: atoms. We are made of stardust! CARBON This atom enters into the composition of sugars that serve as “fuel” for living beings. Together with calcium (another atom), it strengthens the bones of their skeleton. OXYGEN AND HYDROGEN Ces deux atomes* composent la célèbre molécule* d’eau, H 2 O, présente sur Terre depuis 4,4 milliards d’années… Un homme adulte en est composé à 65 %! NITROGEN With oxygen, this is one of the main atoms that compose the air that we breathe. 13.7 BILLION YEARS 10 n