Life The First Four Billion Years

Education & Reference Science & Nature Children’s Books

Life The First Four Billion Years by Martin Jenkins distills Earth’s sprawling saga into a picture book adults and teens can dip into together. Grahame Bake-Smith’s sweeping, gallery-worthy illustrations pull readers deep into prehistoric seas and barren early continents, making the science feel cinematic.

This large-format Walker Studio hardcover traces the birth of cells, the rise of animals, and the mass extinctions that shaped modern biodiversity. The concise text balances hard facts with storytelling flair, giving casual learners a clear timeline while offering natural-history buffs plenty of visual detail to linger over.

The used copy is clean, unmarked, and from a smoke-free home; pages are crisp, binding tight, and the only wear is a gentle cover bend plus light shelf scuffs—nothing that detracts from shelf appeal. It’s ready to anchor a science lover’s library or inspire a young reader curious about evolution and the planet’s deep past.