Moth: An Evolution Story

The peppered moth story is a famous example of natural selection and this beautiful book vividly brings it to life. Until the early 1800s, most of these moths were light with peppered wings, with a very rare dark variety. The moths’ wings help them to lie camouflaged on lichen-covered branches; however, with the advent of the Industrial Revolution and its pollution, the reverse became true. The darker variety became dominant as through natural selection, the darker moths were better adapted to their environment. As laws to reduce air pollution have been passed, the lichens have grown back and the light moths have returned and now both varieties can be seen.

This book is a real gift to the Y6 teacher when teaching the Science P of S strand : to identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and that adaptation may lead to evolution. The story of the moth is told clearly, effortlessly explaining the ‘science bit’ and encouraging the reader to go and look for these wonderful creatures. A message of hope - hope for survival, hope for adaptation and hope for change. More detailed notes are included at the end, including the Latin name (Linnaeus’s binomial system!).

In addition to the fascinating text the book is lavishly illustrated with stunning illustrations. From the stunning moth emerging from its cocoon to the dangers of predators to the menacing pollution to the cleaner skies, each spread is just gorgeous.

‘Moth’ is both fascinating and beautiful- and an excellent resource for school! The perfect mix of art and science, it’s a real must have!

Moth: An Evolution Story Isabel Thomas, illustrated by Daniel Egneus

Bloomsbury ISBN: 978-1408889756