Aunt Jodie’s handy evolution guidebook for children is born

An Adelaide psychologist wanted a way to explain evolution to her future children. First her daughter was born – and then this book was.

• Subscribe for $1 a week for first eight weeks

Curious children, parents and teachers can turn to “Aunt Jodie’s Guide to Evolution” by North Adelaide psychologist Dr Jordan Bell for answers to tricky biology questions.

The book was conceived in 2011 when Dr Bell watched a friend’s daughter unwrapping illustrated Bible stories.

She said: “I sat there and thought, ‘what am I going to give to my future children? Where are the books that outline my world view, in a way that is easy to absorb, understandable, appropriate for their developmental level?’ I guess I’d better write one.

“I went home that night and in a white hot fury and wrote the bones of the story down.”

Dr Jordan Bell reading her new book “Aunt Jodie’s Guide to Evolution” to children including her daughter Ruby, 6, and Hamish, 6 in the children’s corner at “Booked” in North Adelaide. Picture: Emma Brasier

It took nine months to put flesh on those bones but the story needed an illustrator to really bring it to life and then baby Ruby, now 6, was born.

Two years ago, Dr Bell, who was raised a Catholic and then went on to study science at the University of Adelaide, with double majors in genetics and psychology, decided the book simply had to be published.

Palaeontology Professor at Flinders University, John Long, reviewed the “delightful” book before publication to ensure scientific accuracy.

The project was crowd-funded via Pozible.com and donations helped to get copies into 125 disadvantaged schools across SA.

Artist Gabriel Cunnett illustrated "Aunt Jodie’s Guide to Evolution" by Dr Jordan Bell. Picture: Alice Robinson

Cover of "Aunt Jodie’s Guide to Evolution" by Dr Jordan Bell with illustrations by Gabriel Cunnett.

Aunt Jodie’s Guide to Evolution is at gumroad.com/jordanbell, Dymocks Adelaide and Booked at North Adelaide, RRP $14.99