What to Read for Darwin Day

Jillian

Jillian is a New Orleans-based library associate, writer, and movie-lover. When she's not working, she likes to read creative nonfiction, and write for various film sites.

In honor of International Darwin Day, February 12th, let’s celebrate Charles Darwin’s legacy with the literature he inspired.

Charles Darwin was a naturalist who was born on February 12, 1809, in Shrewsbury, England. Interested in science from an early age, Darwin enrolled in medical school in Scotland when he was sixteen, but discovered a stronger interest in natural history than medicine. His passion for nature was put into action when in 1831 he boarded a Royal Navy vessel called the HMS Beagle and embarked on a mission to survey the South American coast. After the ship docked in the Galapagos Islands, Darwin made observations that revolutionized science.

Darwin’s analysis of the plants and animals he observed led him to ponder how species change over time, and how they became so well adapted to their ecological niches. He postulated natural selection as a mechanism for change, whereby plants and animals that are best adapted to their environment will survive to reproduce. In 1859, Darwin published The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection which sold out upon its release and made waves in science, theology, and philosophy, igniting controversies that persist to this day.

In celebration of Charles Darwin’s contribution to science, these 10 books (a mix of adult and children’s non-fiction) offer an exciting way to learn about Darwin and the later research he inspired.

For Children

Grandmother Fish: A Child’s First Book of Evolution

Evolution took place over a span of time that even adults can’t wrap their heads around, but Jonathan Tweet makes the subject easy to digest for kids as young as 3 – 6. With bright, crisp illustrations by Karen Lewis, Grandmother Fish shows how our parents and grandparents pass their traits along to us. Along the road back in time, the book engages kids with a call-and-response style that teaches how all life is connected.

Evolution (DK Eyewitness Book)

Evolution by Linda Gamlin is a perfect fit for kids ages 3 – 7 who want a brief, visually-oriented introduction to evolution. It makes a great reference book for families who want to understand the story of evolution from the earliest bacteria to the emergence of modern humans.

Billions of Years, Amazing Changes: The Story of Evolution

Billions of Years, Amazing Changes is a comprehensive overview of the theory of evolution, suitable for readers ages 8 – 12. With stunning, detailed images of geological wonders and fossils, Laurence Pringle’s book shows change through time in a way that will give young readers an appreciation for the magnitude of the natural world.

Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species

This young readers’ edition of Charles Darwin’s famous Origin of Species by Rebecca Stefoff is an excellent middle-grade introduction to Darwin’s theory of natural selection. This edition highlights Darwin’s discoveries with illustrations and photographs. The book offers updates on current 21st-century insights while also honoring the original text.

What Darwin Saw: The Journey that Changed the World

Rosalyn Schanzer’s What Darwin Saw is a kid-friendly telling of Charles Darwin’s 1831 voyage on the HMS with Captain Fitzroy. This fun adventure includes brightly illustrated panels that let readers follow along as Darwin asks questions and explores exotic lands. The tale is best suited for older children ages 10 – 14.

For Adults and Teens

The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection

No Darwin Day celebration would be complete without the original groundbreaking text. It’s a lengthy but accessible read that even appealed to the Victorian public when it was first released. In the book, Darwin succinctly outlines his observations of species adaptations and explains his theories. He does so notably in the following quote:

As many more individuals of each species are born than can possibly survive; and as, consequently, there is a frequently recurring struggle for existence, it follows that any being, if it vary however slightly in any manner profitable to itself, under the complex and sometimes varying conditions of life, will have a better chance of surviving, and thus be naturally selected.

The Book That Changed America: How Darwin’s Theory of Evolution Ignited a Nation

For readers who want the American perspective of the Origin of Species, Randall Fuller’s 2017 book The Book That Changed America offers a well-told narrative of the book’s reception from the perspectives of American activists and literary giants. From Ralph Waldo Emerson to Federick Douglas, Fuller gives us a look at the ways evolutionary theory spun its way into social and philosophical issues of 1800s America.

Darwin’s Fossils: The Collection that Shaped the Theory of Evolution

Although we tend to think of Darwin’s finches when we remember his analyses of species, Darwin also had a collection of fossils that he used in his studies of change over time. While in South America on the HMS Beagle, Darwin collected fossils of various extinct species. In the Andes, he collected marine fossils and discovered a fossil forest that was later known as “Darwin’s Forest,” in which he found fossilized coniferous tree stumps that date back to the Triassic period. In this book, we see Darwin’s wide-reaching talents as a naturalist and geologist.

Smithsonian Intimate Guide to Human Origins

Carl Zimmer, a foremost science writer, covers the fascinating prehistory of the human species in this comprehensive study of human ancestors. From the famous fossil of Lucy (aka Australopithecus Afarensis) to the impressive cave paintings of Chauvet and Lasceaux, we learn about how our ancestors went from apes that evolved to walk the African Savannah, to modern humans who made art and fine tools. It all comes with this overarching question: what makes us human?

The Darwin Awards: Evolution In Action

For a read with a comedic edge, peruse Wendy Northcutt’s classic, The Darwin Awards. Rife with brief narratives of fatal but laughable mishaps, readers will no doubt be shocked by some of the gruesome and ridiculous ways lives end due to human foolishness, from the men who decided to adorn a tiger with a floral garland, to the inebriated man who took an impromptu dive in an orca tank – these stories might make you wonder if humans have yet to transcend the forces of natural selection.

All titles are on display in the pink parlor at the Milton H. Latter Memorial Library.