Charles Darwin is one of the most important philosophical and scientific thinkers of the 19th (and 20th) centuries. Our renewed fascination with him began with a Mother/Daughter trip to the Galapagos several years ago, and after reading The Voyage of the Beagle (and being immediately captivated by both the man and the science) we started to see him everywhere in both science and literature. Intriguing resources for his life and work can be found for all ages in picture books, graphic novels, fiction, essays, and biographies.
Young collectors will find a like-minded soul as they read about the young Darwin’s shelves of specimens from nature; the littlest experimenters will delight in his chemistry experiments (especially those that went awry); and young (and old) philosophers will be touched by his struggles to mingle his scientific and religious beliefs. We’ve culled a beginning list to whet the appetite of everyone in the family… (and to extend the adventure, check out: and Define Theory ).
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Family Read-aloud
DarwinDarwin by Alice McGinty, illustrated by Mary Azarian
This is a very appealing biography of Darwin, and a great family read-aloud. It is a compelling story of his love of nature and his curiosity that was present as a young child and persisted through his entire life. Readers get a taste of his early life, his education, and a lucid description of his time on the Beagle as well as the power of his theory of evolution. The format of the book also makes it one to pore over and talk about. The font is large and easy to read, and the primary source excerpts are handwritten from his journal. Mary Azarian’s woodcuts, always gorgeous, are particularly appropriate here. A wonderful introduction for the whole family.
