{"product_id":"how-to-build-a-human-isbn-9781623542504","title":"How to Build a Human","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe epic story of our evolution in seven big steps!\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHow did we become who we are? With trademark wit, acclaimed science writer Pamela S. Turner breaks down human evolution into the seven most important steps leading to \u003ci\u003eHomo sapiens\u003c\/i\u003e. How, when, and why did we:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1.stand up,\u003cbr\u003e2.smash rocks,\u003cbr\u003e3.get swelled heads,\u003cbr\u003e4.take a hike,\u003cbr\u003e5.invent barbecue,\u003cbr\u003e6.start talking (and never shut up), and \u003cbr\u003e7.become storytellers?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis fascinating, wickedly funny account of our evolutionary journey turns science into an irresistible story. Vetted by experts at the Smithsonian's Human Origins Program, the book also features incredibly detailed portraits by celebrated paleo-artist John Gurche that bring our early ancestors to life.♦ \"Evolution is a journey, not a destination.\" The paths and branches of human evolution, from our primate ancestors to \u003ci\u003eHomo sapiens\u003c\/i\u003e,  are thoroughly covered over seven chapters (with titles like \"We Get  Swelled Heads\" and \"We Invent Barbecue\"). The book shows how physical  traits, social behaviors, intelligence and empathy, and hte ability to  teach and talk afforded advantages to various hominid species. Turner is  a consummate storyteller: her steady pace through millions of years of  the human evolutionary line is buoyed by an amused stance, joke-filled  footnotes, well-timed shifts into second person, and modern-day  analogies attuned to a middle-grade audience. At the same time, she is  meticulous in emphasizing the main underlying concepts of evolutionary  science: her terms are precise, her representations of scientific  knowledge clearly differentiate between hypothesis and established fact,  and she confronts minsconceptions head on (see especially a powerful  statement about the unscientific construct of race: \"race is a cultural  construct, not a biological reality\"). The main text includes numerous  diagrams and maps; photographs of landscapes, fossils, artifacts, and  modern animals; and artisic, and modern animals; and artistic  interpretations of long-extinct species. It's followed by another fifty  pages of notes and resources, timelines, and a glossary. \u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eThe Horn Book\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e♦ A probing look into what fossil evidence and other scientific discoveries tell us about our hominid predecessors. Turner kicks off this overview of human evolutionary history with an amusing quip: “If evolution had a motto it would be \u003ci\u003eYeah. Good enough.\u003c\/i\u003e” She then goes on to detail seven watershed moments, beginning with “Step One: We Stand Up.” Also covered are: the emergence of toolmaking; the development of larger and more complex brains; the migration of \u003ci\u003eHomo erectus \u003c\/i\u003eout of Africa; the shift from raw to cooked foods; the evolution of human language; and the advent of storytelling. Using a disarming narrative nonfiction style, the text clearly explains the significance of each anatomical or behavioral change and paints a fascinating picture of life on Earth during geological eras when big predators like \u003ci\u003eGenyornis newtoni\u003c\/i\u003e, the “Demon Ducks of Doom,” roamed the planet. Turner also presents scientifically grounded theories for why other ancient species of hominids died out. Gurche fleshes out the fossil record with uncommonly lifelike sketches and paintings of hominid faces and full-body figures in discreet poses. Also dispersed throughout the book are thought-provoking color photos of ancient human artifacts. Of particular note is a goose bumps–inducing gallery of prehistoric handprints on cave walls around the world, an image that powerfully brings vanished species into the human fold. The copious backmatter includes a dense, scholarly bibliography; notes on the “myth” of racial, or even species “purity”; and a brief run-through of forces other than natural selection that drive evolution.\u003cbr\u003eGlints of fun light up a rock-solid dig into our Stone Age ancestry. \u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e♦ This fascinating, inviting, and engagingly written  volume is ideal for report-writing tweens and teens and those  interested in biology and history. It will also find a happy audience in  parents who are stuck on younger children’s questions about how ancient  sea creatures abandoned the ocean and became . . . us. Chapters discuss  the major steps in development that made modern humans, illuminating  how and why each happened—how we learned to walk upright, use fire,  talk, tell stories, and more. Every page includes some tidbit that will  be new to nonexpert readers, such as why evolution caused people on the  Indonesian island of Flores to be small but Flores lizards to be extra  large; what color a polar bear–grizzly bear hybrid is; how walking  upright helps keep us cool; what percentage of humans have no  Neanderthal genes (spoiler: it’s zero!). Given that the peoples  chronicled here left no written records, Turner gives a remarkable  amount of information on them, making clear when scientists have hard  facts and where they employ a certain degree of speculation. Throughout,  Gurche’s sepia-toned likenesses of other Hominids and color photos of  ancient artifacts enliven the already lively text. Extensive back  matter—in-depth notes, bibliography, and index—add to the value. A must  for science shelves. \u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e, starred review\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e♦ This entertaining and informative look at the history of human evolution follows our hominid predecessors throughout history. Chapters detail major milestones in evolution, including how our ancestors learned to walk, use fire, and talk to one another. The tone is factual and conversational, and humorous footnotes will keep middle grade readers engaged. Turner does more than simply state the facts, speaking to the historical significance of each. The ability to convey detailed and well-researched information in a riveting narrative style is the greatest strength of this title. Color photos and sepia-toned illustrations add context and will engage visual learners. The extensive back matter includes notes, glossary, further reading, a time line, and bibliography. The author’s note addresses the exclusion of a discussion of race in the main text. The final chapter concludes with a reminder that together we can problem solve to make a difference, just as we have done throughout history—a message that will resonate with many younger readers. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eVERDICT:\u003c\/b\u003e This well-researched account of human evolution is a first purchase for library collections.\u003cbr\u003e—\u003ci\u003eSchool Library Journal, \u003c\/i\u003estarred reviewPamela S. Turner has a master's degree in public health from the University of California, Berkeley, and an abiding fascination with science, animals, and evolution. She is the author of several award-winning books for young readers, including \u003ci\u003eSamurai Rising\u003c\/i\u003e, a YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award finalist, and \u003ci\u003eCrow Smarts\u003c\/i\u003e, winner of the AAAS\/Subaru SB\u0026amp;F Prize for Excellence in Science Books.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJohn Gurche is one of the most respected paleo-artists in the field. His works have appeared in \u003ci\u003eNational Geographic \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eScientific American\u003c\/i\u003e and at the American Museum of Natural History, the Field Museum of Natural History, and the Smithsonian Institution. www.gurche.com","brand":"Charlesbridge","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46301086777573,"sku":"NP9781623542504","price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9781623542504.jpg?v=1767729384","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/how-to-build-a-human-isbn-9781623542504","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}