A Beginner's Guide to Immortality: From Alchemy to Avatars

Is it possible to live forever? People have been trying to figure out a way to escape mortality since, well, forever. This book takes readers on a fast-paced tour of several wacky and wise methods humans have used to try prolonging their lives, from ancient immortality elixirs and quests for a fountain of youth to modern-day research into cryogenics and robotics.

Touching on folklore from around the world, famed literary immortals, and studies of animals that seem unaffected by aging, the book delves into topics as diverse as genetics, religious rituals surrounding the afterlife, and research into basic lifestyle choices, like eating blueberries or getting a pet, that could help you live longer. Each page is a playful mix of fascinating facts that open up cross-curricular topics in history, science, and social studies to explore.

Illustrations of historical figures, imaginary places, and scientific specimens add a touch of whimsy and bring out the beauty, sincerity, and playful side of human curiosity.

Informational text features: table of contents, introduction, chapters, sidebars, fact boxes, headers and labels, map, index, and sources

Maria Birmingham is a long-standing contributor to OWL and chickaDEE magazines, writing numerous features and recurring sections for both. She also served as the managing editor of OWL. She has published two previous titles with Owlkids Books: Weird Zone: Sports and Tastes Like Music. She lives in Brampton, Ontario.

Josh Holinaty is an illustrator whose works include public art commissions and book, magazine, and newspaper illustrations. He also teaches illustration at Guru Digital Arts College. He has illustrated one previous title with Owlkids Books: It's Catching. Originally from Alberta, he now lives in Toronto.