A fascinating survey of the backboned family, starting with fish and amphibians and moving on to reptiles, birds, and mammals of land and sea, detailing not only their life cycles and the structure and function of their anatomical features, but also how they interacted with each other and changing environmental conditions. Dozens of illustrations are included, some with labels for students to copy into their notebooks and others showing animals in their natural habitats. The reader is encouraged throughout to think along with the author, considering this and wondering about that, and in the end marveling at the wonders of creation. Sequel to Life and Her Children which provides an in-depth description of the invertebrates.