Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve
The title itself indicates an exciting tale is about to be revealed and it instantly captures a reader’s attention with its positive message – having life is tremendous.
The bygone revolutions, agrarian and industrial, have made way for the new age of science and technology. As a result, educators are beseeched to channel programmes that foster knowledge and indeed a deep interest in this ever expanding field.
In his book for very young children, it is clear that Neal Layton maintains that a child is ready to celebrate the essence of being alive. The format is large and the illustrations are eye catching in their exuberant colour. He touches on the uniqueness of each human being on the planet yet everyone began with the amazing union of two tiny cells: one male, one female.
Humour adds to the attraction of the content when he questions the meaning of being alive. A stone clearly is not; yet a fly, lying upturned, also is no longer alive, but it once was, as we all know particularly in summer.
He précises some of the great thinkers of the past and their search for the difference between living and non-living things. A doctor states it is a cardiovascular system.
However, Neal Layton goes on to clearly announce the three main factors living things have in common – they are cellular, they grow and they reproduce.
We learn of the differences in cells: they specialise in skin, blood, bones and so on.
The biology is explained in clear, vibrant pictures and the exciting information that the human body contains 75 trillion cells. They are incredibly small but contain important instructions called DNA.
Following the section on cells are clever, simple facts about growth as well as the basic details of how a baby develops in utero. The birth of another human on the planet is shown to be thrilling and the final pages are joyous affirmation of being alive as the lifeless robot and his ‘friend’ a stone longingly look on.
Some adults, who have not benefited from learning these facts as children, educated in an old style curriculum, may also find This Big Story both amazing and entertaining. We all must find time to pause and appreciate the wondrous nature of our being alive.
Most importantly, this excellent book will capture the interest of all those young ones who are blessed with a thoughtful curiosity.
The Big Story of Being Alive
[2023]
by Neal Layton
Hachette
ISBN 978 152636 265 0
$29.99; 28pp