How the Borks Became

An Adventure in Evolution

By: Jonathan Emmett, Elys Dolan (Illustrator)

Hardcover | 3 May 2018

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A gentle and humorous way of introducing the concept of evolution to young children.

Borks live on a planet quite like our own Earth. They have shaggy yellow fur and long thin necks. But once they had short blue fur and almost no necks at all.

How could this happen? Well, it didn't come about all at once ...

Jonathan Emmett tells a delightful story in verse about the Borks and all the things that happened to make them gradually look quite different, while still remaining Borks. And by the end of the story, the reader will have a very good notion of how Evolution by natural selection works.

About the Author

Jonathan Emmett's books have been translated into 30 languages and have won fifteen awards in Britain and the USA. He started work as an architect but left, “to become a stay-at-home dad and to try my luck as an author and paper-engineer.” His first book, Doohickey and the Robot, was published in 1999, and now he is recognised as a leading interpreter of scientific ideas for young children. He names Dr Seuss, Maurice Sendak and Roald Dahl as authors who made a great impression on him as a child. When he’s not writing or paper-engineering, he likes to make furniture.

About the Illustrator

Elys Dolan is rapidly becoming a big name as one of the finest humorous illustrators around. An author as well as an artist, she grew up in Sussex, went to Cambridge School of Art, and lives in Cambridge. Her own books include Weasels and Nuts in Space, and she has also illustrated Jonathan Emmett’s The Clockwork Dragon (2015).

Industry Reviews

"An amazing find! An easy to understand, hilarious and devastating book about evolution! The illustrations of the little Borklings discovering they need fur, longer necks, camouflage... I'm dying. I love it."

* Goodreads *

"A clever little lesson on natural selection through a story of the borks. Love love love. It's so difficult to find good children's books but one that teaches too? Rare!"

* Goodreads *

"Now in paperback, a funny, accessible introduction to the concept of evolution and natural selection Dolan's pictures are a riot, rich in visual humour."

-- Fiona Noble * The Bookseller *

"... bizarre, Seussian (yet strangely sensible)"

-- Anna McKerrow * Book Trust, What To Read After Dr Seuss *

"In this delightful and instructive picturebook (dedicated by the author to Charles Darwin) Jonathan Emmett has written his own origin of the species... the species here being the Bork. You might not have heard of Borks before but fear not, Jonathan is an expert....The story of the evolution of the Borks is skillfully told in rhyme which makes it great to read out loud. Not only will children be entertained by the story of the Borks but they will also learn about evolution of creatures (and natural selection) which will make it a useful book to share in the classroom. Elys Dolan's artwork perfectly compliments Jonathan's text. It's bright and eyecatching, and gives the reader lots to look our for on each spread."

* An Awfully Big Blog Spot *

"If you are looking for a book that is both fun to read and educational, you have found it here! The Borks are a likeable animal and their evolution and challenges are explained in an entertaining and educational way ... The big, colourful pictures bring the science to life and telling the tale through rhyme makes it accessible and fun to read. You can't fault a book that makes challenge science accessible to even the youngest minds!"

* Fathers Reading Every Day *

"Evolution can be a difficult concept to explain to children, but this amusing picture book presents it beautifully. Reminiscent of Dr Seuss books, it's a fantastically funny tale with wonderfully vibrant illustrations."

* Booktrust - Books we Love *

"What an utterly brilliant way to describe evolution. Full of imagination, cleverness, detail and fun. Highly recommended!"

* Read it, Daddy! *

"The combination of Emmett's brilliant, quirky rhyming narrative and Elys Dolan's wonderfully witty, whimsical illustrations is an enormously enjoyable amalgam of science and storytelling, which offers a perfect starting point for the KS2 evolution topic"

* Red Reading Hub *

"Very much enjoying How the Borks Became by @scribblestreet and @ElysDolan! Seuss vibes and a fab way to introduce ideas of evolution and natural selection to children."

* Teach Primary *

"A fab introduction to the concept of evolution. It's rhyming text and bright fun illustrations have really grabbed her attention. It's been a good way to introduce ideas of difference to her."

* Let Them be Small *
"An accessible and entertaining way to introduce the concept of evolution and natural selection, told through amusing verse ... Elys Dolan's colourful illustrations are full of fun."

* Parents in Touch *

"A funny, accessible introduction to the concept of evolution and natural selection, using the fantastical creature of the Planet Charlebob. Dolan's pictures are a riot."

-- Fiona Noble * The Bookseller *

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