November 2015 Book of the Month If you want to know what was happening on Earth any time in the last four billion years, then you couldn’t do better than opening out the Wallbook Timeline of Big History. Each one of the What On Earth Wallbooks contains a 2 metre long poster – ideal for pinning to the wall or poring over on the floor – that presents information in a unique cross-section of time, and history as a continuing Earth-wide story. Packed with pictures, the wallchart is immediately enticing and full of information. A separate quiz tests children on what they can find out and demonstrates the Wallbook’s scope, questions include: which are the first creatures thought to have been able to see underwater? Tulips became a symbol of dignity in which Islamic region? What nationality was the assassin of Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria? A unique, accessible and inspiring information book. ~ Andrea Reece
These What on Earth wallbooks are an amazing feat of publishing. The Timeline of Big History depicts millions of years of evolution, the rise and fall of civilisations, one hundred of the top battles and, on the reverse, the story of planet, life and people from the Big Bang to today.
In addition to the Wallbook, The Timeline of Big History also includes a Chronicle which features more than 35 newspaper stories and a quiz.
The What on Earth? Wallbook is a comprehensive, visual voyage through the past that contains more than 1,000 hand-drawn illustrations, every major event in natural and human history, the rise and fall of civilizations, the top 100 battles and, on the reverse, the story of planet, life and people from the Big Bang to the present day.
See billions of years of history unfold into a giant wallchart made up of more than 1,000 pictures and captions. A short guided tour by its creator – world history author Christopher Lloyd. Illustrations by Andy Forshaw.
The wallbook is A3 size with hardback covers for extra durability. It can either be read like a book or unfolded into a 2.4 metre long timeline for hanging on a wall.
You can see the author demonstrating his wallbooks in this video -
"A gripping re-telling of the most extraordinary story ever told" The Independent;
"Epic - this is history let out of the box" The Daily Telegraph
"Astonishing - perfect for all the family" The Sunday Times
"A truly epic undertaking, in terms of layout, typography, design and sheer scale of ambition" - Christopher Middleton, The Daily Telegraph
“I wasn't able to get to the camera to catch the moment of my 4 y/o grandson on hands and knees on the dining room table looking for dinosaurs and boats. Your heart would melt. Many thanks to you, Chris and all those that made these delightful posters.” Ted Mead (grandparent)
“I wanted to let you know how fascinated my four boys are with the Shakespeare wall chart. They love it! They are aged 10, 7 and twins aged 6, and have had no contact with Shakespeare at all up till now - but can sit with it on their laps and pour over the pictures for ages! Then they ask questions (inevitable - the gory stuff!). Helen Hughes (parent)
“I have been reading your What On Earth Happened? book and it has inspired me to rethink my history teaching. The way you link one event/invention to another is brilliant. Would you object if I borrowed some of your content for use in my History class-notes?” Alex Kirkpatrick, Bishopsgate School
“Christopher Lloyd came to our school to give a talk and it was compulsory for me to go. I really dreaded it, and thought that it would be boring. However, to my pleasant surprise the talk was one of the most interesting talks I have ever listened to. It sparked in me a real interest in history and current events, so much so that I went home and got the What On Earth Happened Wallbook and the full book. I have chosen GCSE for history and will likely go on to study it at A-level. Thanks again for what you are doing and for inspiring me.” Aidan Bartholomew (14 years old)
Author
About Christopher Lloyd
Christopher graduated with a double first in history from Cambridge in 1990 and went on to become the Technology Editor for The Sunday Times. He left in 2000 to become CEO of Immersive Education in Oxford before becoming an author in 2006. His best selling history of the world, called What on Earth Happened? (Bloomsbury 2008) is now in 15 languages and has sold more than 500,000 copies worldwide. He established his own publishing house What on Earth Publishing in Spring 2010 and has published a series of timelines in collaboration with illustrator Andy Forshaw covering history, nature, science, sport, Shakespeare and Magna Carta. Christopher is now in great demand as a lecturer and storyteller in schools, museums and at literary festivals throughout the UK and abroad. He divides his time between lecturing and writing.
