"Are dinosaurs still alive?"
"No, honey, they all died. They're extinct."
"Oh. Did dinosaurs have trains?"
"No, that's just pretend on TV. Only people can build trains and people weren't around yet when the dinosaurs were alive." (Suck it, Ken Ham!)
"Well, how did the people get here?"
"Well, after the dinosaurs died, there were other animals left that changed over time and became people other different animals."
"You mean they changed like frogs and caterpillars?"
"Well, that's a little different. When caterpillars and tadpoles become butterflies and frogs, that's called metamorphosis."
Anyway, I tried to explain a little better, but wasn't sure how to present concepts like super-fecundity, natural selection, and the passing on of genes in ways that an almost-six-year-old could grasp. (Also at the back of my mind was that this conversation could easily segue into having "the Talk.") So I got on the internet to see what age appropriate books on the topic might be available. I've got it narrowed down to two. This one:
Or this one:
Has anyone read either of these and can offer me any useful information about them? My child's educational future is in your hands. Thanks!