Planet Life: The Amazing History of Earth

Breathtaking illustrations bring billions of years of Earth’s fascinating history to life in this engaging and accessible book created in conjunction with Natural Science Museum of Barcelona.

Aina Bestard  is an illustrator and textile designer who divides her time between Barcelona and Mallorca. As a little girl, her grandfather shared his artistic vocation with her by teaching her to draw. Bestard has studied graphic design and has worked for brands such as Miró Jeans, Women’s Secret, and Camper. Her beautifully illustrated children's books have been published around the world.

Books in her immensely successful What’s Hidden series have been published in more than a dozen countries, with over 200,000 copies in print. Titles include What’s Hidden in the Woods?, What’s Hidden in the Sky?, What’s Hidden in the Sea?, and What’s Hidden in the Body.  Her most recent book, Planet Life, has been translated into 10 languages since its publication in 2021. It has been awarded the Prix Sorcières 21, one of the most prestigious literary awards in France,  and Best Illustrated Book of 2020 by the Association of Booksellers of Northern Spain. It was also a finalist for the 2021 Andersen Prize in Nonfiction.

With more than 140 years of history, the Museu de Ciències Naturals in Barcelona is a major institution dedicated to the conservation of collections and the study and teaching of natural history, hosting a broad range of events and exhibitions. The museum is an open, dynamic, and iconic facility that plays a vital role as a scientific forum promoting public awareness of current environmental issues. Situated in Barcelona’s Parc del Fórum, the museum is home to the permanent exhibition ‘Planet Life’, which tells the story of Earth and the evolution of life. It presents the dynamic relationship between our planet’s geological processes and the living things that have lived and continue to live here, from Earth’s formation to the present day, via a continuing, complex, and cyclical process of evolution. The exhibition allows visitors to see Earth as a delicately balanced system that is nonetheless constantly changing. ‘Planet Life’ has served as an invaluable guide during the production of this book.