What on Earth Happened?

by Phoebe Assenza

Age:	8+	Retail Price: $27
Available at: amazon.com

This ambitious book, written by science journalist and historian Christopher Lloyd, surveys the "complete story" of planet Earth: from its humble beginnings as an "invisible speck of infinite energy" to its relatively new human inhabitants and their current global financial crisis. Each chapter is punctuated with brilliant maps, charts, and timelines, along with historical photos and paintings. All topics are treated with Lloyd's steady, analytic remove, but the interesting facts and quirky cast of nonfiction characters still make it a fun read.

Bloomsbury USA, 2008