Just as it states, this picture book presents a (very condensed) history of everything (at least Earth-related) in 32 pages. While I enjoyed Claybourne and Van Der Veken’s collaboration overall - especially the first 26 pages - I did have a few issues. For one, the use of “slaves” vs. “enslaved people” in Science, Art and Discovery (which, honestly, a problematic header for a section that includes a discussion on slavery). The overall tone of this VERY brief section was neither positive nor as negative as it should have been - though at least it didn’t pretend people were taken from their homes willingly - but for a book published in 2020, we should really be using the correct terminology.

Because it’s such a brief overview of ALL of history, some things are a bit too simplistic. For instance, in the Industrial Revolution section, Claybourne talks about governments beginning free schooling under the header “School for everyone.” Obviously as an adult I realize there are still people in the world who never have the opportunity to go to school (and not all “free” education is created equal), but in a book for children, this is a slightly problematic presentation of the facts.

On the other hand, I like how Claybourne puts a good amount of focus on non-European accomplishments (at least prior to the Industrial Revolution); children who are interested in history, particularly children in the U.S., are probably less familiar with Asian, Middle Eastern, and African art and invention, so it was exciting to see these things highlighted here.

Overall, a decent presentation of the story of Earth, especially given the amount of space.

I really loved getting to read this book, it was so fun to see how so much history could be condensed into just 32 pages.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I guess this is the primary school version of that mahoosive Bill Bryson book about "Everything". At times, of course, this is not a history book, as it covers cosmology before hitting on early geology (I didn't know we had weaker and smaller tectonic plates earlier on in Earth's existence), before it's on with the origins of life and the evolutionary flow. It's not all prehistory, however, as we build up through cities and so on to the modern, connected world and hopefully the eco-friendly one of the future. It's all of the modern design, so some double-page spreads have a sensible reading order, others just seem to dump little gobbets of script here and there. But it does certainly serve as a sensible book for those educating the young to consider. It's neither too light nor too verbose, neither dull-looking nor too image-conscious, and it's nicely pitched.

I really liked the idea of this book and I thought the illustrations were great. This is such a good overview of the timeline of history and I would definitely recommend it for children

From the Big Bang through to the Modern Age, 'The History of Everything in 32 Pages' explores key moments in the creation and development of the world as we know it now. Paired with colourful illustrations, this is the perfect companion for any curious child.

This is a fantastic read, I have recommended it to a teacher friend as her P1's would love it!

It starts with the big bang, moving through time from early life, dinosaurs, mammals, humans, science, technology to the modern age.

This book is adorable and great in theory. I know it's only 32 pages but I wish it went into more depth. This would be cute to have in a classroom. Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the early review copy.

I liked the idea of this book, but the illustrations weren't all that great and a little more depth would have been nice (of course 32 pages wouldn't suffice then).

A good romp through evolutionary history. Colourful pages throughout. Each eras facts are dispersed over a double page spread. Pictures and words to describe key facts. A good read for inquisitive minds of all ages and a good starting point for wanting to know more about something in particular.

Such a pretty book. Sums things up nicely but lots of subjects could obviously get broader and deeper coverage. Not entirely satisfying, but visually stunning.