A book to help readers appreciate nature and consider the fundamentals of life. By learning and thinking about the life cycle of a variety of animals on earth, children begin to see our planet and it's creatures as one and develop a personal connection to it.

Beginning with "A lifetime for a mayfly is about one day," it presents 24 "lifetimes" such as that of an earthworm (about six years), a giant sequoia (about 2,000 years), a bacteria ("well, that depends"), a dinosaur ("never again") and the universe (about 15 to 20 billion years). Each example comes with detailed illustrations and something to ponder, such as, for earthworms, "Worms teach us that our work can be very important, even if it can't be seen." Each plant or animal is practically a lesson plan in itself, with "tell about it," "think about it," and "look it up" challenges. Written by a retired teacher, this is a favorite book for children and teachers alike.