RECOMMENDED READINGThese books are not required, but they make wonderful companions to the curriculum. Many can be read aloud together over several weeks, returned to throughout the year, or explored independently by curious learners. You don’t need all of them; just pick what fits your family, but I do recommend at least one general dinosaur and prehistoric animal book. They are marked with an “*”.

Space and Early Earth

• The Mysteries of the Universe: Discover the Best-Kept Secrets of Space (DK Children’s Anthologies)
• An Anthology of Our Extraordinary Earth: Discover the Awe-Inspiring Wonders of Planet Earth (DK Children’s Anthologies)
• Science Comics: Solar System by Rosemary Mosco (graphic novel) — pairs well with the earliest lessons on the Big Bang and formation of the solar system advanced
• Science Comics: Rocks and Minerals by Andy Hirsch (graphic novel) — advanced; useful across many Earth science lessons throughout the year
• Science Comics: The Periodic Table of Elements by Jon Chad (graphic novel) —advanced; pairs well with stars and early life
• Science Comics: Wild Weather by Étienne Davodeau and Joris Chamblain (graphic novel) —advanced; a good companion to lessons on Earth’s atmosphere and changing climate
• Science Comics: Volcanoes by Falynn Koch (graphic novel) — advanced; pairs well with lessons on early Earth and plate tectonics
• Science Comics: Plagues by Falynn Koch (graphic novel) — pairs well with lessons on microbial life and early single-celled organisms
• The Ultimate Book of Planet Earth by Anne-Sophie Baumann, Illustrated Didier Balicevic (this is popup/interactive book that connects to quite a few of our lessons)

Prehistoric Life and Fossils

• Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Life (DK Children’s Anthologies) *
• Knowledge Encyclopedia Dinosaur! DK *
  
• The Dinosaur Book (DK Our World in Pictures) Younger *
• National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs (younger) *
• An Anthology of Fossils: A Collection of Plant and Animal Fossils From Around the World (DK Little Anthologies)
• Dinosaur and Other Prehistoric Creatures Atlas: The Prehistoric World as You’ve Never Seen It Before (DK Where on Earth? Atlases)
• Science Comics: Dinosaurs by Mk Reed (graphic novel) — advanced; pairs well with Mesozoic lessons
• Science Comics: Prehistoric Mammals by Joe Flood (graphic novel)  --advanced; pairs well with lessons on the Cenozoic and the rise of mammals
• Science Comics: Sharks by Joe Flood (graphic novel) — advanced; pairs well with lessons on Devonian and Carboniferous ocean life
• Science Comics: Frogs by Liz Prince (graphic novel) — advanced; pairs well with lessons on the Devonian and the first amphibians
• Science Comics: Coral Reefs by Maris Wicks (graphic novel) — advanced; pairs well with lessons on Cambrian and Ordovician ocean life
• Science Comics: Trees by Andy Hirsch (graphic novel) — advanced; pairs well with lessons on the Devonian and Carboniferous, when plants first took over the land
• Science Comics: Bats by Falynn Koch (graphic novel) — advanced; pairs well with lessons on Cenozoic mammals
• Science Comics: Elephants by Jason Viola (graphic novel) — advanced; pairs well with lessons on Cenozoic mammals and prehistoric megafauna

Evolution and Life’s Story

• When Plants Took Over the Planet: The Amazing Story of Plant Evolution
• When the Whales Walked: And Other Incredible Evolutionary Journeys
• When We Became Humans: The Story of Our Evolution
• Amazing Evolution: The Journey of Life
• Evolution by Sarah Darwin
• Science Comics: The Brain by Tory Woollcott (graphic novel) — pairs well with lessons on human evolution and the development of early humans

For Older Learners and ParentsThese are rich reference books and adult-level texts. They work well as parent background reading or as resources for older, independent learners who want to go deeper.

• Evolution: The Human Story, 2nd Edition
• Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Life: The Definitive Visual Guide to Prehistoric Animals (DK Definitive Visual Encyclopedias)
• Natural History (DK Definitive Visual Encyclopedias)
• Universe, Third Edition (DK)
• Earth: The Definitive Visual Guide, New Edition (DK Definitive Visual Encyclopedias)