One Tiny Bubble
The Story of Our Last Universal Common Ancestor
For ages 4 to 8
Owlkids Books
Written by Karen Krossing
Illustrated by Dawn Lo
The wondrous true story of one tiny bubble that sparked all life on Earth – including yours
Meet LUCA – our Last Universal Common Ancestor, the itty-bitty organism that every unique life-form on Earth can be traced back to. This sprinkle-sized blob was formed from the dust of exploded stars, water, and a lot of heat. LUCA was a single cell that split into two, and these cells multiplied into more organisms that grew and changed. Over the billions of years that followed, the descendants of LUCA evolved into bacteria, mushrooms, sharks, fir trees, lions – and humans! All the extraordinary life on Earth began with LUCA, through a miraculous process that could also occur on other planets.
This vibrant and poetic informational picture book breaks down scientific concepts using simple, engaging language. Striking illustrations bring LUCA to life and reveal how readers are connected to one another, and every life-form on our planet, through one tiny bubble.
- STEM curriculum ties to life systems and space systems.
- Celebrates our common ancestry while honouring the diversity of life on Earth.
- An endnote and a glossary encourage curious readers to explore LUCA in more detail.
- Reviewed by an expert in molecular evolution.
Awards
- 2024 TD Summer Reading Club Selection
- Winner of the 2023 SCBWI Crystal Kite Award for Canada
- Starred – Canadian Children’s Book Centre Best Book for Kids and Teens in 2023
- Selected as a Chicago Public Library Best Informational Book for Younger Readers in 2022 and a 2022 Science and Nature Book for Kids by Betsy Bird
- Second place in the Alcuin Society Awards for Excellence in Book Design – Children’s Category
Media
- Discussion Guide and Colouring Pages
- Creator Chat on Picture Books, Eh!
- Sparking Connections with One Tiny Bubble
- “Drawing in the Reader into a Non-Fiction Picture Book” on KidLitCraft
- Books of Wonder Interview of Crystal Kite Winners
Expert Review
“One Tiny Bubble explains how living things fit into the big picture of Earth’s history. It takes children on an exciting journey from life’s emergence on a young, rocky Earth, through plants and dinosaurs, all the way to our grandmas and grandpas and us. The story is centered around the very first living cell, LUCA, who started the miraculous process of evolution. Parents will have as much fun reading this book as kids.”
Prof. Dr. William F. Martin,
Author of many scientific articles on life’s early evolution,
Institute of Molecular Evolution,
Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf
Reviews
“This book squeezes millions of years of our past into a beautiful brief narrative of our last universal common ancestor, or LUCA…. In accessible and engaging illustrations, young readers will get excited about a tiny bubble and find plenty of fodder for story time discussion.”
School Library Journal
“A simple, matter-of-fact reminder that we are all connected.”
Kirkus Reviews
“This poetic and informational picture book shares scientific concepts using easy-to-understand language and reveals how all living things are connected.”
Top Grade: CanLit for the Classroom, 49th Shelf
“Krossing’s gentle, lyrical text explains a complex concept to young readers….The simplicity of Lo’s vibrant, coloured illustrations not only suits the writing style but will also appeal to the book’s target audience. Highly Recommended.”
Canadian Review of Materials
“Krossing’s text explains, very clearly and plainly in a way that a child (or I) could understand….It’s so friendly and fun with the help of Dawn Lo’s illustrations.”
Betsy Bird, 2022 Science and Nature Book for Kids
“Throughout the story, Krossing uses specific craft techniques to connect readers to the story, from direct address to apt comparisons, enabling kid readers to understand LUCA in relation to themselves and their world.”
KidLitCraft