The breathtaking wonders of God’s creation
Review of "Kingdoms of Life" by Carly Allen-Fletcher.
Kingdoms of Life
Carly Allen-Fletcher
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2024.
Author and illustrator Carly Allen-Fletcher’s passionate, articulate narrative and spectacular, vivid artwork will draw children into the breathtaking wonders of God’s creation. Allen-Fletcher points out that there is life all around us, some seen, much unseen. She explains that scientists sort different types of life (based on differences in their cells and how they live) into big groups called kingdoms. The six kingdoms that scientists have defined so far are animals, plants, fungi, protists, bacteria and archaea.
As Allen-Fletcher takes a close look at each kingdom, she introduces children to amazing animals they probably have never heard of, like tardigrades (also known as water bears or moss piglets) and fairy wasps (smaller than a grain of rice). She also informs kids about unique plants like African baobab trees, which can hold thousands of gallons of water in their trunks, and resurrection plants, which dry up and curl into tight balls and hibernate, sometimes for years, till the next rainfall. She goes on to reveal the mysteries and miracles of the other four kingdoms.
In a note from the publisher, readers are pointed to the numbers in the artwork and the glossary at the end of the book which offers the corresponding common and scientific names of the members of each kingdom that are displayed. An activity kit based on this marvelous book is available on the Eerdmans Books for Young Readers blog.
Though Kingdoms of Life never mentions God, the Creator of all, the book yet points to his majesty. Christian parents and caregivers who savour this book with young children will have plenty of reasons to point out the handiwork of God and the goodness of his creation.
