Darwin’s Voyage Around the World

This picture book is Darwin’s Voyage Around the World, written and illustrated by American author and illustrator Jennifer Thermes, translated by Liu Mei, and published by Zhejiang Children’s Publishing House.

It is a science biography picture book that won the 2017 Outstanding Science Trade Book award for K–12 students in the United States. Suitable for children aged 5–12, it uses vivid illustrations and storytelling to take children along on Darwin’s journey, exploring the mysteries of the natural world.

The story follows 22-year-old Darwin as he boards the HMS Beagle and embarks on a five-year voyage around the world. It tells how he collected insects in South America, dug up dinosaur fossils, rode across the grasslands with gauchos, and climbed the Andes Mountains searching for fossils. These observations and discoveries laid the foundation for his revolutionary theory of evolution by natural selection. The book covers geography, geology, zoology, botany, and many other scientific fields, and is filled with maps and hand-drawn illustrations, letting children feel as though they are on a real scientific expedition.

Author Jennifer Thermes specializes in map illustration and nature-themed work. Her delicate pencil and watercolor style brings Darwin’s journey to life with both authenticity and childlike wonder. The picture book not only shares scientific knowledge — it also encourages children to stay curious, boldly explore the unknown, and cultivate a spirit of relentless pursuit of truth, just like Darwin.