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(as of Jan 30, 2025 18:09:48 UTC – Details)
What makes us human, and where did we come from? How did a clever ape climb down from the trees and change the world like no other animal has done before?
This large-format, highly illustrated book guides readers through the key aspects of the human story, from the anatomical changes that allowed us to walk upright and increased brain size in our ancestors, to the social, cultural, and economic developments of our more recent cousins and our own species. Along the way, focus spreads take a closer look at some of the key species in our history, from the ancient Australopithecus Afarensis, ‘Lucy’, to our recent cousins the Neanderthals and ourselves, Homo sapiens.
Looking beyond the anatomical evolution of humans, this book explores how our culture and way of living has evolved, from how trails of cowry shells reveal early trade between tribes, to how and why humans first domesticated dogs, horses, and farm animals, and began settling in permanent villages and cities. Through digestible information and absorbing illustration, young readers will be given an insight into their own origins, and what it really means to be a human.
From the Publisher
WHAT’S A HUMAN?
Humans are unique. We grow crops, breed domestic animals and trade across continents. We talk and write with complex languages. We have the ability to reason, and we explore and try to understand the workings of the world.
Caring for the sick and elderly
A fossil skull, dated about 1.7 million years old, has been found that is almost toothless. The empty tooth sockets had been reabsorbed, which could only happen if the teeth were lost while the owner was still alive. It shows that hominin groups at this time must have cared for their old or ill members.
Neanderthal nosh
In Africa, plant food was available all year round, but during a northern European winter Neanderthals had fewer plants to eat. Instead, they ate much more meat – reindeer in winter and red deer in summer, for example, along with aurochs, mammoths, straight-tusked elephants and woolly rhino.
Prehistoric bowmen
The earliest known evidence for the bow and arrow was discovered in South Africa, at a site that dates back about 77,000 years.
Global Humans
Homo sapiens was not the only hominin who migrated out of Africa. As the map shows, several of our predecessors did too.
Publisher : words & pictures (July 16, 2019)
Language : English
Hardcover : 64 pages
ISBN-10 : 1786038870
ISBN-13 : 978-1786038876
Reading age : 7 – 11 years
Lexile measure : 1090L
Grade level : 2 – 6
Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
Dimensions : 8.55 x 0.6 x 11.9 inches
Customers say
Customers find the book a good resource for teachers and students. They appreciate the complete content and illustrations rather than photographs. The text is simple but accurate, aligned with current science.
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