Presenting biodiversity in ways that kids will understand is a challenge. This book sets out to present the complexity of life on Earth in an accessible, child-friendly format, and generally succeeds.

The book is organized using the metaphor of the “tree” of life with its five “branches,” each a kingdom: monera (bacteria), fungi, protoctista (amoebas, algae), plants, and animals. Within these branches, each species is seen as a “leaf.” Each chapter includes a picture of the tree of life with the proportion of the whole represented by the species under discussion coloured in yellow.

Strauss uses the tree metaphor consistently and effectively throughout. Thompson’s illustrations reinforce this notion by depicting examples of each species on individual leaves. The tree metaphor also reinforces the point that all life is interconnected and interdependent: no leaf is disconnected from its branch, and no branch is disconnected from the larger tree. Strauss’s text also emphasizes this throughout, especially toward the end of the book in her discussion of species at risk of extinction. The final pages offer activities to help kids make protecting the Earth’s biodiversity part of their daily lives. There is also a final note to teachers and parents, and a glossary.

/i is beautifully designed, and Thompson’s realistic pictures bring the Earth’s creatures vividly to life. Despite these strengths, some of the vocabulary will prove challenging for readers as young as eight. Older children will nevertheless find this a wonderfully helpful resource.