The Wild World of the Future

Readers that disapprove of this book may be missing the point of their own biological present. How could agile gibbons and even homo sapiens have evolved from rodent-like mammalian ancestors? How could manatees have evolved from elephants? Birds from reptiles? Our biological present is just as wild as this book! This is the book my eldest son, now 7, has enjoyed the most. It is not only imaginative but also true to the evolutionary trends observed in our fossil history. This book is thought-provoking and therein readers may find its value. The mostly computer-based illustrations are detailed and realistic, which adds to the reading experience. There is also a DVD series, btw!

I bought this for my 5 year old after he saw The Future is Wild series (one time, he borrowed it from a friend). From his love of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals, he already had a good understanding of evolution and of change on this scale. The idea of taking it into the future is a fantastic one. He understands that these are just ideas, that these are not animals certain to live. He absolutely loves it. He is always creating the creatures with his legos or making them from all sorts of odds and ends around the house. He also creates other creatures and discusses what their adaptations are and why and how they work. It is great for his imagination as well as his understanding of some scientific principles. We've read the book many times and he really wants a copy of the DVD series.

Still, this book is a great summary of the ideas that TFIW's scientists came up with, and provides tidbits of interesting info on animals of today that correspond with those guessed at for the far future. A glossary nicely rounds out this highly worthwhile, fascinating book. Give it a read.

I bought this book after reading The Future is Wild.This book is much the same, but adapted to younger tastes. It also expains that although they may look "silly" as the reviewer below remarked, but are proven body designs that would supposably accually work, or somethin or another. Please do not listen to the adjacent and dissilusioned reviewer. Althogh, you would probably appreciate the book better if you read the other first.