The Wonder of Life on Earth by Henry Gee and Raxenne Maniquiz (Signed Bookplate Edition)

From £20.00

Discover the story of life on our planet as you have never seen it before! The perfect gift for the curious of any age. Your copy will include a bookplate signed by the Author.

Published 5 Feb 2026 (Preorder)
Book
£20.00
Gift Wrapped Book
£23.00

About the Book…

Discover the story of life on our planet as you have never seen it before! The perfect gift for the curious of any age.

From the first tiny bubbles of life in the ocean to the arrival of endlessly adaptable apes, this is the ultimate survival story.

In 30 bite-size chapters, Nature editor and author of the award-winning A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth, Henry Gee tells the incredible, unlikely story of life on our planet, with vibrant colour illustrations from Raxenne Maniquiz.

The Wonder of Life on Earth packs billions of years of evolution into one amazing 80-page book, journeying through disasters, evolutionary oddities, and a planet shaped by supervolcanoes, toxic air, and asteroids – always focusing on the most pivotal, important moments.

Talented botanical illustrator Raxenne Maniquiz brings to life a parade of strange and marvellous creatures. Travel back in time to look inside bacteria and the first cells, to the planet’s first trees and plants, to the weird rangeomorphs, and on to armoured fishes, dinosaurs, nimble mammals and resourceful apes and primates.

Henry’s gripping narrative makes it easy to understand the carbon cycle, natural selection, fossilisation and the galactic fluctuations that have shaped our planet and the life on its surface.

Complete with a glossary, a timeline and a view into the future, this astonishing and readable natural history is perfect for younger readers and anyone looking for an accessible introduction to the biggest topic around: LIFE.

About the Author…

Henry Gee is a senior editor at Nature and the author of several books, including The Decline and Fall of the Human Empire, Jacob’s Ladder, In Search of Deep Time, The Science of Middle-Earth, The Accidental Species, and A (Very) Short History of Life on Earth, which won the 2022 Royal Society Science Book Prize. He has appeared on BBC television and radio and NPR’s All Things Considered, and has written for The Guardian, The Times, and BBC Science Focus. He lives in Cromer, Norfolk, England, with his family and numerous pets.

Raxenne Maniquiz is a graphic designer and illustrator from the Philippines. Her work depicts images of native botanicals and endemic species from her country, appearing in brand campaigns, product packaging, apparel design, stationery, and published materials for companies such as Adobe and Bloomberg.
In 2021, she won the prestigious Young Gun award―an international, portfolio-based competition that identifies and celebrates today’s vanguard of young creatives.

Binding

Hardback

Author

ISBN

9781035024247

Page Count

80

Published

5 Feb 2026

Publisher

Two Hoots

Optional Extras

We have lots of bookish add-ons available! From Bookmarks to mini wax melt burners, book holders, book baskets, coffee and chocolate – we have plenty of items to add something a little special. Take a look at all of our options here.

* Gallery images of our book boxes show an example of what may be included – treat and gift content may differ. If a wax melt bar is included, scent is subject to availability and may differ. If you have any dietary needs or allergies please add a note at checkout.

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