«This ambitious new book provides insights into 47 species that have defined how life has evolved on our planet. With an eye towards those who are new to science, the book is cleverly written with a light touch to draw you into remarkable worlds with astonishing revelations. I particularly love how the punchy, bite sized chunks of information are easily digestible over a breakfast morning read as your favourite cereal. Elsa has achieved an extraordinary feat - an insightful book with sparkling wit and humour that will appeal to new and seasoned readers of palaeontology.»

Dr Anjana Khatwa, TV presenter and Earth Scientist

«Beyond interesting facts and unusual animals, what ties it all together and elevates this book is the writing, both on account of the excellent explanations and the beautiful phrasing... [Panciroli] injects a degree of poetry that makes you see extinct organisms in a new light...The combination of interesting popular science facts, inspired writing, and a mission to correct common misconceptions make this book easy to recommend, and it would make for a great gift.»

The Inquisitive Biologist

«An extraordinarily accessible and informative biography of life seen through the many forms it has generated and preserved in stone, beautifully presented. From tales of the well-known stars of palaeontology like Archaeopteryx to the many-sided cultural stories of the earliest bee fossil, everyone will learn something new.»

Thomas Halliday, bestselling author of Otherlands: A World in the Making