One Day a Dot: The Story of You, the Universe, and Everything by Ian Lendler

One Day a Dot: The Story of You, the Universe, and Everything Reviews

• 
  Alyssa Gudenburr

  A beautiful and simplified book about the history of the earth, starting from a dot to today. I really liked the story and the illustrations. Would make a great introduction book for elementary children.
• 
  Jeimy

  The Big Bang
  Planets
  Single-celled marine life
  Animals leave the water
  Dinosaurs
  Mass extinction
  ...all the way to modern human life is covered in this simple yet powerful book.
• 
  Misty

  3.5
  Cute art and I like the idea of tackling such a big subject in such a simple way, but it's maybe a little too simple, even for children. But a good starting point for a larger discussion.
• 
  Sharon Tyler

  One Day a Dot: The Story of You, the Universe, and Everything is a picturebook by Ian Lender, with artwork by Braden Lamb and Shelli Paroline. It is currently scheduled for release On April 17 2018. This book is an attempt to simplify and introduce the Big Bang theory and evolution to a young audience. Starting with one tiny dot and continuing through the Big Bang to the rise of human societies, the story of our universe is told in simple and vivid terms. But the biggest question of all cannot be answered: Where did that one dot come from?
  
  One Day a Dot: The Story of You, the Universe, and Everything is a nice start to a conversation about the universe and science that explores what we are made of, and how the world was formed and has changed. I liked the simple version of the Big Bang, the see of dots as the building blocks of matter is very well done, and I think that it gets the basics of how our solar system and life on Earth began across to readers of all ages. However, I thought the Evolution bit was problematic, mainly because of the way it showed only one mammal surviving extinction when most people, including children, are aware of the fact that some currently living reptiles and birds are actual descendants of the creature alike prior to the event that triggered the mass extinction. However, I think that this book might help start a discussion and help interest young minds into exploring the physics and science that is currently trying to answer the big question, and prove many of the theories definitively. With all that said, I thought the illustrations were great, and did a wonderful job of illustrating the theories and explanations.
• 
  Barbara

  Relying on interesting pencil and ink illustrations, this picture book explains the Big Bang theory and how the universe began. I liked the idea for the picture book and the end papers that include a timeline from the Big Bang, 13.7 billion years ago to the current Anthropocene era. Most of the focus in the book is on humans and their evolution here on Earth, which is perhaps understandable, given the way we are having such a huge impact on the world around us, but I'd have liked longer stops between the origin of our planet and life and humans. After all, there are many eons between the beginning and now. Since this is a simplified version of what happened, it provides a good place to start and may encourage some interesting adult and child conversations and possibly encourage more responsible stewardship toward our planet. However, as I often found when I thought about these things as a child, despite all that we know, we still don't know what made this process of creation start or where that very first dot appear before it burst. Thinking about what started all this that would lead to you and me is a pretty interesting process with no firm answer.
• 
  briz

  My kid had literally *just* told me that their preschool teacher had told them that "a monkey turns into a boy" and I was gawping like a fish, trying to find an
  ELI4 explanation for "EVOLUTION", and then - BY CHANCE - we read this book.
  
  Thank God.
  
  A better science education/overview than (a) I could have ever given, and (b) most American schools offer HAR HAR HAR, sorry the joke was wide open, had to go for it.
• 
  Molly

  Amazing. I didn't think it would be possible to explain the big bang theory to a young child, but you can now! I love the illustrations and how the book ends with a good discussion point for children and parents.
• 
  Bibi Larson

  Very cute book!!
• 
  Katie

  The illustrations in this book are gorgeous! I love the simple explanation of evolution in this book. I look forward to reading it to my toddler.
• 
  Amber Webb

  In explaining the origins of the universe, One Day a Dot by Ian Lendler, attempts to do so with a single dot that emerges out of nothing and grows and changes without any outside forces. I found the story to be incredibly vague, lacking a great amount of detail and far too simplistic for children really wanting answers to this question. This could be a good conversation starter, but for me, it stops there. When working with a population of children that desire and deserve solid, real answers, this book does NOT cut it.
• 
  Earl

  From one dot comes great wonderful unexpected things. A story of evolution that makes it understandable to young readers. Includes a timeline of key moments.
• 
  Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book*

  One Day a Dot: The Story of You, the Universe, and Everything by Ian Lendler, illustrated by Shelli Paroline and Braden Lamb. PICTURE BOOK. First Second (Roaring Book Press), 2018. $18. 9781626722446.
  
  BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL
  
  AUDIENCE APPEAL: EL, MS - AVERAGE
  
  Starting with the appearance of a simple dot, that then got so excited it burst into lots of other dots, that then joined together and made light, and eventually...the world as we know it came to be and we all exist. This is a simplified--and fantastic!--explanation of evolution, taking the readers from the very beginnings all the way to their own life on earth today. The author leaves us with the one thing no one can agree on or explain today--where that first dot actually came from.
  
  I liked this the first time I read it, and loved it the next time I gave it a go. The illustrations are colorful, artsy, and perfect for the material. The way a somewhat complex topic like evolution is simplified down here is great and I can see many a science teacher using this book. This should be in every school library and science teacher's bookshelf.
  
  Reviewer: TC
  
  https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
• 
  Lynn

  ‘Evolution or creation?’ for beginners! This book takes the reader along a chronological journey from the first day a dot appeared in space right to the present when “these amazing creatures (humans) could make anything and learn everything.” Although the book leans toward evolution, it leaves the reader with the specific question, “Where did that first dot come from?” which could open the door for creationism.
  Cartoonish illustrations with predominance of blue tones are within a black border. Easy to read font in contrasting black or white is usually placed against solid background but occasionally is a bit lost on a planet or ocean scene. Text has irregular placement around each page, so reader needs to look carefully to get every sentence.
  The language is youngster-friendly, and allows for much thought and discussion if read by or with an adult. No names of animals or specific processes. Instead the author describes survival: “Instead of Catch the Light, the game was now called Eat or Be Eaten.”
  Librarians may decide not to attach the jacket, as the cover shows a distinctly different image! Front endpaper is solid blue, but the back shows a timeline. However, every epoch is shown equally spaced rather than in proportion.
  
• 
  Tasha

  This book is a dynamic mix of graphic novel, nonfiction and picture book. It’s the story of the Big Bang and how earth came to be and how life started here. From the initial explosion, the book quickly moves to life on earth, using comic panels to great effect to show various lifeform stages. Dinosaurs emerge and life flourishes until the meteor strike. Still, some life survives and mammals and evolution lead to humans. The book has many answers but still ends with the ultimate question of where that first dot came from.
  
  A great look at the science of the Big Bang and evolution for small children, this is a cleverly designed book. The book remains firmly nonfiction, nicely describing what is happening in short texts. The book also offers a timeline at the end that shows the Big Bang through current day. The illustrations have a gentle whimsy to them that makes the book inviting. A bright color palette of yellows, greens and oranges adds to the dynamic subject. A winner of a read. Appropriate for ages 4-8.
• 
  Melissa

  This is an introduction to evolution. It starts with a dot in the Big Bang and slowly evolves into the world we know it today. There isn't a lot of scientific terms, most of the focus is on dot, light, eat...even the words animal or human isn't used. The back cover does have an evolution time line with more specific scientific explanations.
  
  I am a believer in creation and evolution. I think things evolve to survive, but I don't believe we came from monkeys. This book doesn't focus on the creation at all. The only thing close is the very last page stating that nobody knew where that first dot came from.
  
  The illustrations are pretty.
• 
  Rebecca Nevling

  One Day a Dot: The Story of You, the Universe, and Everything is an uncomplicated story about how Earth became the way it is today. This book guides young readers through the Big Bang to the 21st century. It explains dinosaurs and what happened to them. It accounts for all the different animals and when humans appeared. It's remarkable how such a complicated story can be condensed into so few words and still make complete sense. I appreciate that this book doesn't diminish religion. It closes with the discussion starter, "Where did that first dot come from?". This leaves parents and caregivers an opportunity to share their beliefs on the subject with their children.
• 
  LaVonne Hanlon

  This clever picture book uses a graphic novel approach to study the beginnings of life. Even as it depicts the likely evolution of earth’s creatures, it ponders universal questions about existence, leaving room for further examination. The image of the dot, digitally enhanced in vivid color over pen and ink drawings, recurs throughout the story, but the text ends with the perennial question, “Where did that first dot come from?” A timeline at the end of the book adds details and can help guide children’s discussions.
• 
  Melissa

  This was a fantastic introduction to the big bang and the beginnings of life right up to present day for young children in a graphic novel. I realize in saying that, it sounds like a lot, but this does a brilliant job of whittling it down to just the basics and using simple language that elementary age children would understand! And yet in its simplicity it was so amazing! It just has to be read.
• 
  Jesse

  I loved this one! A fantastic beginning introduction to the theory of evolution without getting overly detailed. The word choice is awesome as it allows for repetition even when discussing different things, and it offers some resolution by doing so that would otherwise not be achieved. My absolute favorite part: it ends with a question that will have kids (and parents) trying to answer for years until one of them grows up and figures it out for the rest of us. :) Fantastic!
• 
  Anna Staton

  Genre: Informational
  Grade Level: 1st-3rd
  
  I believe it is required that we teach the "big band theory" because the creation theory is attached to religion. I think this book paints the theory in an awesome way and how it goes in steps. It shows how we have evolved over time and how we have even invented new things. At the end it asks "where did that dot come from?" So this is how we can let our students come up with their own opinion on how the Earth was created.
• 
  Ruth

  This is an absolutely wonderful picture book to explain the origins of the universe to the smallest readers. Easy to understand and brilliantly - in both color and skill - illustrated, I see this book earning a place on the shelves of young scientists and secular homeschoolers alike. Absolutely lovely.
• 
  Susan

  I made my kid check this out because it was published by First Second and I liked the look of it and he flat-out refused to read it with me because something on the cover scared him. Shrug? But he came around and ended up really liking it. A good intro to evolution for his 4 year old mind, and I love the artwork.
• 
  Betsy Ellor

  I was blown away by this book. It so perfectly captures the concept of evolution, the history of our species and communication and also how much we have yet to figure out in a poetic and gorgeous volume that's easy for young readers to grasp and to enjoy.
  
  I really can't say enough good things about this book!
• 
  Jessie

  Moves forward from the Big Bang to roughly today, with patterns of growing, making new shapes and new things.
  
  There's a timeline in the back end pages covering that same time period. It's not spaced in a linear/log way (that would be really hard), but it is all numbered and really emphasizes how long this all took.
• 
  Maggie Panning

  This is a VERY basic, vague introduction to the Big Bang and evolution and it is told in a way that is almost frustrating for kids who have learned more because it leaves out so much. But it isn't trying to be highly informational, so for what it is worth it is fine, just not a book I would pick up again.