The Big History Timeline Wallbook: Unfold the History of the Universe—from the Big Bang to the Present Day!

Gr 3–6—This oversize time line of the origins of the universe will capture the attention of students. Six feet of world history are illustrated and illuminated in tiny detail (a magnifier is included), from the big bang all the way to 2016 and the recent Brexit vote. On each spread, facts are divided into sections such as "Space," "Sea," and "Sky," and information is presented in brief, easy-to-understand bites. Cool factoids abound: in the Stone Ages, "human populations suffer a near catastrophic decline, possibly to as few as 2,000 individuals." The format of the book makes it a great introduction to ancient and recent history for upper elementary schoolers. Since such huge swaths of time are covered, the text can sometimes be confusing to follow, but that does not detract from the overall appeal. Those who want more details will appreciate the newspaper-style articles at the end that expand on some of the topics in the time line, such as the Terracotta Army and the 1969 moon landing. Readers can test their new knowledge with a 50-question quiz.