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By thinking about the lifetimes of different animals on earth, children begin to see our planet and it’s creatures as one and develop a personal connection to it.

Beginning with “A lifetime for a mayfly is about one day,” it presents 24 “lifetimes” such as that of an earthworm (about six years), a giant sequoia (about 2,000 years), a bacteria (“well, that depends”), a dinosaur (“never again”) and the universe (about 15 to 20 billion years). Each plant or animal is practically a lesson plan in itself, with “tell about it,” “think about it,” and “look it up” challenges. Written by a retired teacher, this is a favorite book for children and teachers alike.