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WORK TITLE: Fara, the Soccer Fairy
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
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CITY: London
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COUNTRY: United Kingdom
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LAST VOLUME: SATA 341
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in London, England; married (husband a meteorologist); children: four.
EDUCATION:Holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in social anthropology from the University of Cambridge and SOAS University of London.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, translator, and educator. Has worked as a teacher of English as a foreign language, copywriter for an appliance insurance firm, editorial assistant in academic publishing, and freelance Thai-to-English translator.
AVOCATIONS:Playing piano, singing in a chamber choir.
WRITINGS
Author of the blog Taking Words for a Stroll.
SIDELIGHTS
Elli Woollard is an author of picture books who grew up in London and now lives there with her family. She got her first taste of writing fiction—as therapy, at age four—when, coping with jealousy over her brave best friend’s ability to ride a tricycle, she penned a story in which she is the one teaching the friend, but the friend falls and smashes her head. [open new]From then on she continued composing stories (sometimes reviving the best-friend role reversal), which she illustrated and stapled into books. She confided to Nikki Sheehan of Author Allsorts that she was “a right little goody-twoshoes at primary school.”[suspend new] Alongside years of childhood piano lessons, Woollard spent much of her spare time reading, including the dictionary (for fun). Her love for both words and music eventually inspired her to write silly poems, and, after earning college degrees and spending six years in Thailand, as an adult she tried her hand at writing children’s books. Part of the impetus for her efforts was an embarrassing incident when her youngest son broke the glasses of children’s versifier Michael Rosen [resume new]by stepping on them toward the end of a performance. As Woollard relates in an Author Allsorts essay, “Then something almost magical happened. On the way home, the first line of a poem popped into my head.” Thinking a few poems might make up for the broken glasses (Rosen declined her offer to pay for them), Woollard got writing—and proved unable to stop.[suspend new] She achieved success with her breakthrough “Woozy the Wizard” series, about an aging wizard who is having trouble with his spells.
Woollard delivers a postmodern fairy tale with The Giant of Jum, illustrated by Benji Davies. The Giant of Jum, tired of broccoli and inspired by the exploits of the bad guy in Jack and the Beanstalk, sets out looking for a child to devour. Every time he finds potential prey, however, he gets persuaded to lend a hand by fetching a ball, saving a cat, and so forth. He is fed up (figuratively) by the time he meets a boy named Jack, but the surprise Jack and his grateful friends have in store turns his taste buds in a sweeter direction. Appreciating the multiracial characters and not-so-scary giant, a Kirkus Reviews writer affirmed of The Giant of Jum, “The cadence of the lines dances on the pages, perfectly playing off the old ‘Fee Fi Fo Fum’ rhymes with eloquence and aplomb.”
Another creature looking for a human to devour is the star of The Dragon and the Nibblesome Knight, also illustrated by Davies, as young Dram sets out uncertainly on his first hunting expedition. When he crash-lands in a pond in bad weather, a young knight doffs his armor and jumps in, mistaking the dragon for a duck, while the dragon mistakes the knight for an ordinary boy. After the knight nurses Dram back to health and they part ways, a fateful second encounter will test the bond they formed.
Books for Keeps writer Katie Clapham praised Woollard’s “sing-song rhyme” and affirmed that “children will love this fun friendship story,” while a Kids’ Book Review contributor called The Dragon and the Nibblesome Knight “well written and entertaining,” with a deft lesson about “not judging a book by its cover.” Enchanted by the book’s gleeful refrain about “dribblesome, nibblesome, knobble-kneed knights,” a Kirkus Reviews writer noted that beyond the “brief moment of tension” during the pair’s reunion, “the gentle tone of art and text alike propel the story toward its satisfying, happily-ever-after ending.”
[re-resume new]Woollard whirls a pair of classic fairy tales—“The Three Little Pigs” and “Little Red Riding Hood”—into something new with The Great Gran Plan. Resting cozy in his house, one of the three pigs gets wind of the wolf’s latest target, a girl’s defenseless grandmother, and decides to take action. After racing around the village collecting useful items, the pig hustles to the cottage and finds Grandma to be a worthy ally in subduing the evildoer. As the wolf gets dispatched to fairy-tale jail, other familiar characters grace the scene and partake in a festive food fight. A Kirkus Reviews writer affirmed that Woollard’s “lively, rhyming” combo story has “great appeal … for both lovers of fairy tales and silly adventures.”
Woollard teamed up with Briony May Smith on Little Bear’s Spring and Little Goose’s Autumn. The former title finds a young bear waking up somewhat early from hibernation, to encounter a snowy landscape, suspiciously friendly wolves, and other animals saying only that “spring” is on its way. The bear also finds a lonely sort of stone that he keeps with him as he drifts back off to sleep. When he next wakes up, spring has delightfully arrived, and the stone turns out to be more than met the eye. In School Librarian, Sarah Seddon said that Little Bear’s Spring offers “a real celebration of love and friendship” and proves “a magical book.”
Woollard’s picture book The Footballing Fairy was published in the United States as Fara, the Soccer Fairy. Touching on more classic tales, the story finds a talented young fairy practicing her soccer skills, only to accidentally cause a couple of disasters—smashing a mirror with an apple her aunt had intended for Snow White, and compromising a pumpkin concerned with Cinderella’s ball. Banished from the court, Fara wanders the forest and grows fearful as a kicked ball rouses a troll from his cave. Fortunately, the troll enlists her for the Happily Ever After soccer club and future fairyland fame on the playing field. A Kirkus Reviews writer affirmed that the “upbeat text” and lively illustrations “combine for a goofy fractured fairy tale” that “shoots and scores on behalf of ball players of all sizes.”
With Life, illustrated by Dorien Brouwers, Woollard offers nothing less than a grand tour of the evolution of life since the Earth’s beginnings. A contributor to My Shelves Are Full declared that Woollard’s take on the planet’s history stands out for being an “extended poem” written with “style and grace,” delivering a “delightful journey across time and space.”[close new]
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, June 1, 2017, review of The Giant of Jum; June 15, 2018, review of The Dragon and the Nibblesome Knight; April 15, 2019, review of The Great Gran Plan; March 1, 2025, review of Fara, the Soccer Fairy.
School Librarian, fall, 2019, Sarah Seddon, review of Little Bear’s Spring, p. 161.
School Library Journal, June, 2019, Kristen Todd-Wurm, review of The Great Gran Plan, p. 69.
ONLINE
Author Allsorts, https://authorallsorts.wordpress.com/ (November 3, 2014), Elli Woollard, “Michael Rosen’s Glasses”; (February 9, 2017), “Book Birthday Interview–Nikki Sheehan Interviews Elli Woollard for Swashbuckle Lil and the Jewel Thief“; (September 21, 2017), “The Great Gran Plan Book Birthday! Kerry Drewery Interviews Elli Woollard.”
Books for Keeps, http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/ (January 19, 2019), review of The Dragon and the Nibblesome Knight.
Kids’ Book Review, http://www.kids-bookreview.com/ (January 15, 2017), review of The Dragon and the Nibblesome Knight.
My Shelves Are Full, https://myshelvesarefull.com/ (October 28, 2023), review of Life.
Never Imitate, https://neverimitate.wordpress.com/ (June 13, 2014), Jackie Law, author interview.
Elli Woollard grew up in central London, and lives just a few streets away from her childhood home. Slightly more excitingly, she also lived for seven years in Thailand.
A graduate in social anthropology (with a bit of Burmese language, now largely forgotten, thrown in for good measure), she has worked variously as a teacher of English as a foreign language, a copywriter, an editor and a freelance Thai-to-English translator.
Although she has always written bits and pieces, she got into writing seriously following a mortifying incident in which her youngest son broke Michael Rosen’s glasses. In addition to writing picture books she also writes children’s poems.
Elli lives with her four crazy but wonderful children, her meteorologist husband and two guinea pigs. She does not live with a cat, although the neighbour’s moggy (‘Six Dinner Sid’s Sister’) seems to think otherwise.
Malton Community Primary School in Yorkshire has now named a class after Elli.
Follow Elli on Twitter or read her blog, Taking Words for a Stroll.
Elli spent a lot of her childhood with her nose in a book, much to the annoyance of the lampposts she used to bump into when reading and walking at the same time. When she wasn’t reading she was playing the piano, and for a long time she considered a career in music, before taking the obvious step of studying Social Anthropology at university. Armed with a fun by not very practical MA degree, she then travelled to Thailand and lived there for six years, teaching herself Thai and working as a Thai – English translator. She now lives in London with her husband and so many children (four of them) that she can’t remember their birthdays and regularly muddles their names. She now divides her time between writing and translation work, and when she’s not doing either she can often be found singing in a chamber choir or joining in with Renaissance polyphony in the local pub.
The Great Gran Plan Book Birthday! Kerry Drewery interviews Elli Woollard
I’m so chuffed to be interviewing Elli Woollard about her new book – The Great Gran Plan!
I was lucky enough to have been sent a copy and it is a thing of beauty!
Great gran plan
The Great Gran Plan is a funny twist on two well-loved fairy tales – Little Red Riding Hood and The Three Little Pigs, with clever rhyme and gorgeous illustrations. Can the Pig outwit the big bad wolf? Will he make it in time to warn Grandma? Can he and Grandma save the day?
It is a fabulously funny, and warm-hearted, book! And a terrific choice for reading aloud.
I had loads of questions I could’ve asked Elli, but managed to eke it down! Hope you enjoy!
The Great Gran Plan is a wonderful mixture of two well-known fairy tales – The Three Little Pigs and Red Riding Hood. How did you come up with the idea to mix the two?
I wrote it so long ago that I really can’t remember! The manuscript was accepted by Macmillan soon after I wrote it, but it’s taken a few years to come out. I was certainly going through a fairy tale phase when I wrote it (The Giant of Jum and Troll Stroll are both takes on well-known fairy tales), so I suppose it must have made sense in my head to combine some of the characters. The great thing about twists on fairy tales is that the readers generally know the characters, which gives you a lot of licence to play around with them. Picture books have very limited word counts, so anything that cuts out the need for too much explanation is good.
giant of jum
It works so well, I don’t want to give any spoilers, but there’s some excellent team work! Do you have any plans to write another fairy tale mash-up or are there any you’d particularly like to see done?
Every so often I have a play around with fairy tales, but I don’t have any concrete plans to write any more. Having said that, I’d quite like Goldilocks to come into a story somewhere…
I’m always amazed by rhyming stories – I used to run story telling sessions with pre-schoolers and they are a delight to read out loud. The Great Gran Plan has such a lovely rhythm to it as well as telling a great story. Does it more or less come straight out like that, or is there a lot of moving around of text and editing?
It’s actually prose that I struggle to write in! My agent generally likes the things I write in verse, but gives me the email equivalent of a slow disappointed head-shake whenever I send her prose stuff. I spent a lot of my childhood playing music, and I think that sense of rhythm just sticks. But I do wish there had been more editing with Gran Plan. Looking back on it, there are things that I would change.
The illustrator, Steven Lenton has done a fantastic job. How does the process work? Do you chat with him about how you see it?
Aren’t his illustrations just WONDERFUL? I’m really pleased at how they’ve turned out. I don’t think I saw any of Steve’s illustrations before I got the proofs though. I don’t like to get involved too much with what the illustrator is doing, because as far as I’m concerned it’s the illustrator’s book as much as mine. Unless something looked really wrong to me I’d rather give the illustrator complete licence. After all, they’re the experts at illustration, not me (as you’d know if you saw any of my attempts at drawing)!
steve lenton
Illustrator Steve Lenton
I notice on your bio it says that you started writing stories after an incident where your youngest son broke Michael Rosen’s glasses! Can you share with us what happened?
It’s here, on this very blog: https://authorallsorts.wordpress.com/2014/11/03/michael-rosens-glasses-by-elli-woollard/
And quick fire fun round –
Favourite flavour ice-cream?
In this country, chocolate. But if that sounds boring, when I lived in Thailand I used to love Wall’s ‘Asian Delight’ ice-cream. It’s based on traditional Thai ice-cream, and contains coconut milk, sweetcorn, and pandan-flavoured tapioca noodles. For some reason it has never caught on over here. I can’t imagine why.
ice cream
Favourite book growing up?
Ooo, impossible question! Possibly Susan Cooper’s The Dark is Rising, if you tortured me into choosing just one.
Favourite book to read aloud?
Another impossible question! I suppose it depends on who I’m reading to. But I love reading BJ Novak’s The Book With No Pictures, despite having had to read it every single day to my youngest son for well over a month.
Favourite place to be?
Give me a field, a few trees, some nice wildflowers and warm sunshine, and I’m generally happy.
Favourite food?
Coffee. It’s not food? Oh. Maybe hummus with jalapenos then. Or marmite. I’m weird.
Cats or dogs?
I have to say cats, or else my cat would probably murder me (she’s sitting on my lap as I type). Luckily for her I love her dearly, even though she often does a good impression of being evil incarnate.
Crisps or cake?
Whmmmf? Sorry, just finishing a mouthful. Cake, hands down. Silly question.
book cake
Beach or mountains?
Definitely more of a mountain person. Until I look down, and remember that I’m not a fan of heights.
TV or cinema?
TV, any time. I’ve never quite understood why you’d want to pay silly money to listen to people munching popcorn for a couple of hours.
Tea or coffee?
Tea is tannin-flavoured dishwater. Coffee is the drink of the gods. I realise this isn’t very British.
Big thanks to Elli!
The Great Gran Plan is out today with MacMillan.
Book Birthday Interview – Nikki Sheehan interviews Elli Woollard for Swashbuckle Lil and the Jewel Thief
screenshot-2017-02-08-11-27-21
Lil is a pirate, a good sort of pirate, and when there is someone to save,
she’ll do what is right (if it takes her all night). Yes, she’ll always be bold and be brave.
On a trip to the museum, evil pirate Stinkbeard tries to steal an old king’s ruby ring, and it’s up to schoolgirl and secret pirate, Lil, to stop him! In story two, Lil and her pet parrot are off to a birthday party. But when Stinkbeard and his pet croc turn up, it’s up to Lil to save the day.
Happy book birthday, Elli!
This is the second book in your new series, following on from Swashbuckle Lil: The Secret Pirate, which is set at Lil’s school, and you’re still rhyming like a DEMON! Have you always had this affliction? And if you can answer this in rhyme you get extra points)
The wicked fairy muttered as she fluttered through the sky:
‘What spiteful spells, what chilling charms, what witchcraft can I try?
I’ve done the Sleeping Beauty thing, but that one proved a joke.
All it took to break the charm was some besotted bloke.
I’ve thought to thwart the love life of that horrid little Cinder.
But balls, she says, are so last year – she’s met some guy off Tinder.
I used to play the stepmother and gaze at my reflection.
But now I’m using Instagram my image is perfection.
And so with this young Elli brat I need another curse.
Aha! I think I’ve got it ; she shall always think in verse!’
Um, does that answer your question?
DEFINITELY! So how does this magic happen? Do you write the story out in prose first?
I generally sketch out the story first, either just in my head or on paper, but all the real writing is done in verse. Once I’m in verse mode my brain can struggle a bit to think in prose!
screenshot-2017-02-08-11-38-23I love Laura Ellen Anderson’s illustrations!
Isn’t she AMAZING? And what’s more, Laura’s nickname is Lil! I met her after we’d started on the first Swashbuckle Lil book, but I’d seen and admired her work for a long time before that. I was soooo excited when my editor told me who my illustrator was going to be! I think she’s captured the book perfectly. Also she’s got the most amazing hair I’ve ever seen, and I’ve got serious hair envy.
Who is the inspriration behind Lil?
I think she’s the naughty little girl I always secretly wanted to be! I was a right little goody-twoshoes at primary school, with vomit-inducingly good behaviour (until my teenage years. Ha ha!), but there was always part of me that envied my mischievous friends. I hated getting told off, but I could see that they had a lot of fun!
I love Stinkbeard. I particularly loved that even his footsteps smell. Who’s your favourite book baddie?
Oo, that’s a hard one! Roald Dahl is of course the master of baddies (you may notice that Stinkbeard bears some resemblance to Mr Twit), but I think I might have to say Andy Stanton’s Mr Gum, because he’s so brilliantly funny.
Thanks, Elli! Enjoy your day!
elli-013At the age of four Elli wrote her first picture book, involving her best friend, a tricycle accident, blood everywhere, and the author emerging as the hero. Several years later she completed an MA in social anthropology, moved out to Thailand, taught herself the language, and has since worked variously as a Thai to English translator, a copywriter for a domestic appliance insurance firm (about as interesting as it sounds) and an assistant editor in academic publishing. Continue reading… Books: WOOZY THE WIZARD: A SPELL TO GET WELL | WOOZY THE WIZARD: A BROOM TO GO ZOOM | SWASHBUCKLE LIL: THE SECRET PIRATE | THE GIANT OF JUM | THE DRAGON AND THE NIBBLESOME KNIGHT
Woollard, Elli and Smith, Briony May
Little Bear's Spring
Macmillan, 2019, pp32, [pounds sterling]6.99 978 1 509807 90 1
This is a delightful story about a young bear's discovery of the pleasures of Springtime. He wakes up from his long Winter's sleep alone and not sure what is happening. The landscape is snowy and unfamiliar, and no-one seems willing to help him to find his way. All of the animals he talks to tell him that Spring is on its way, without explaining what the Spring is. He finds a stone, which also seems lonely, and takes it with him for companionship. The wolves alone are willing to spend time with him, but luckily little bear realizes that they may be a danger to him.
After another sleep, bear wakes up and discovers the magic of Spring. The stone he was carrying in fact reveals itself to be something else completely, but I shall not spoil the surprise. This story is a real celebration of love and friendship.
A magical book with beautiful, atmospheric illustrations. A true sense of the seasons is captured with the warming colours and sensitive drawings.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 The School Library Association
http://www.sla.org.uk/school-librarian.php
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Seddon, Sarah. "Woollard, Elli and Smith, Briony May: Little Bear's Spring." School Librarian, vol. 67, no. 3, autumn 2019, p. 161. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A602105894/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=d6b47949. Accessed 9 Aug. 2025.
WOOLLARD, Elli. The Great Gran Plan. illus. by Steven Lenton. 32p. Holt/Godwin Bks. Jun. 2019. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9781250186034.
PreS-Gr 1--One of the pigs from the classic tale is back and he's on a mission to save Little Red Riding Hood's grandmother from being eaten by none other than the usual enemy.... the wolf. The pig protagonist journeys through the village to gather items that will assist him with his quest to save Grandma and once again show the wolf who is boss. Throughout the journey, readers are treated to cameos by some other fairy-tale favorites, such as the Emperor ("The Emperor's New Clothes") and Goldilocks. The pig and the granny turn out to be an amazing team and they ward off the big bad wolf and place him in Fairy Tale jail. All of the characters rejoice with a delicious food fight and celebration. Mixed media illustrations accurately represent the characters and paint detail-oriented scenes of the village. Fairy tale characters are strategically placed throughout the scenes and readers will enjoy searching for characters they may know. VERDICT Recommended for general purchase for any collection of fairy tales as this is one of the more enjoyable fractured fairy tales with a little bit of magic sprinkled in the mix.--Kristen Todd-Wurm, Middle Country Public Library, NY
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/
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Todd-Wurm, Kristen. "WOOLLARD, Elli. The Great Gran Plan." School Library Journal, vol. 65, no. 6, June 2019, p. 69. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A587876149/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=1756458e. Accessed 9 Aug. 2025.
Woollard, Elli THE GREAT GRAN PLAN Godwin Books/Henry Holt (Children's Fiction) $17.99 6, 18 ISBN: 978-1-250-18603-4
A fractured fairy tale about one of the three little pigs and his brave quest to save Little Red Riding Hood's granny from being eaten by the wicked old wolf.
The little pig (presumably the third) is living safe and secure in his snug little house when he learns that the wolf is now trying to gobble up Little Red Riding Hood's poor old grandmother. He springs to action to save her in this lively, rhyming fairy tale mashup, racing through his magical fairy-tale village to collect items to help him on his mission. Vivid, colorful, and humorous illustrations fill every page and will engage both child and adult readers. Readers will have tremendous fun searching out all of the other fairy-tale and nursery-rhyme details hidden throughout the main story, making this an interactive experience as well as a delightful read-aloud. A man with rosy red buttocks walks serenely away from the Emporium of New Clothes dressed only in a crown; Goldilocks and a little bear get into a jolly food fight at the Fairy-Tale Fete. Children will eagerly keep turning the pages to find out what happens next and will learn that maybe granny doesn't need much saving after all. There is great appeal here for both lovers of fairy tales and silly adventures. Despite the gobbling-up-granny theme, there are no scary images to frighten even the youngest reader. Most of the human characters are white.
Great fun. (Picture book. 4-6)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2019 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Woollard, Elli: THE GREAT GRAN PLAN." Kirkus Reviews, 15 Apr. 2019. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A582144110/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=ce2913a1. Accessed 9 Aug. 2025.
Woollard, Elli FARA, THE SOCCER FAIRY Paw Prints Publishing/Baker & Taylor (Children's None) $18.99 5, 6 ISBN: 9781223188997
A soccer-loving fairy's big leg gets her into and out of big trouble in this fantastical British import.
Small of size but bursting with personality in Avgustinovich's painterly illustrations, Fara--depicted with brown skin, tight cornrows, and diaphanous wings--likes nothing better than "to PICK UP / and FLICK UP / and KICK UP a ball!" Unfortunately, when her toe connects with a certain apple that her aunt had intended for Snow White and smashes a very special mirror on the wall, followed by another disaster involving a pumpkin at midnight and a fancy dress ball, she's banished from court. "Fairies are meant to go flying and flitting. / They shouldn't play soccer! It's simply not fitting." Alone in the forest later that night, she rouses a huge troll by angrily kicking a ball into a cave. Could this be the end? But instead of eating her, the troll invites her to join the "Happily Ever After" soccer club. On she goes to become the toast of all the soccer fans in fairyland. Upbeat text and energetic visuals combine for a goofy fractured fairy tale ideal for sports fans. Most of the human figures in the illustrations are, like Fara, dark-skinned.
Shoots and scores on behalf of ball players of all sizes.(Picture book. 6-8)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2025 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
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"Woollard, Elli: FARA, THE SOCCER FAIRY." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Mar. 2025. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A828785308/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=5b9489d4. Accessed 9 Aug. 2025.
Life by Elli Woollard
Erin LynOctober 28, 2023Blog PostPost navigation
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Life by Elli Woollard
National Non Fiction November is an annual month-long celebration of non fiction titles for children. It is an initiative run by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups, a national charity whose aim is to bring children and books together.
In an effort to be more involved, I will review more non fiction this month!
Written by Elli Woollard, Illustrated by Dorien Brouwers, Published by Puffin
This is a delightful journey across time and space to see how life evolved and changed since the Earth began. It is a celebration of the world and it’s history.
While there have been plenty of books written about this subject, none are written as an extended poem with such style and grace. It is an easy read and one that would be thoroughly enjoyable to hear read aloud.
The illustrations are impactful and beautiful, not to mention incredibly detailed. They show aspects of history in such a lifelike way. I really enjoyed this book and can think of so many children who would benefit from reading this. What a great resource this would be for schools studying evolution or the planet Earth.