Margins
How Old is a Whale? book cover
How Old is a Whale?
Animal Life Spans from the Mayfly to the Immortal Jellyfish
2023
First Published
4.24
Average Rating
64
Number of Pages

We are all on Earth but for a fleeting moment, yet no two lives are the same. From the delicate mayfly, which lives for just a few precious hours, to the death-defying immortal jellyfish, this book about animal life cycles is a celebration of creatures big and small. Beautifully written by best-selling children's author Lily Murray, this book explores life spans across the animal kingdom, beginning with the very shortest and ending with the longest. Learn about the lives of the incredible monarch butterfly, the mysterious axolotl, the grand Galápagos tortoise, and many more in this uplifting and eye-opening book. Discover creatures who are born within a day of their mothers and others who stay infantile for almost one hundred years. Stunning illustrations by highly commended artist Jesse Hodgson perfectly capture each animal in their natural habitat, making this both an ideal gift book as well as an educational read.

Avg Rating
4.24
Number of Ratings
71
5 STARS
42%
4 STARS
41%
3 STARS
15%
2 STARS
1%
1 STARS
0%
goodreads

Authors

Jesse Hodgson
Jesse Hodgson
Author · 3 books
Jesse Hodgson graduated from Bristol, UWE, with First Class BA (Hons) in Illustration in 2012, after completing her Foundation Diploma in Art and Design at Chelsea College of Art, London.
Lily Murray
Lily Murray
Author · 30 books
Lily grew up in the wilds of snowy nowhere, spending much of her time talking to animals and making up stories. She has continued to do this in her adult life, and now writes both fiction and non-fiction books for children. Her titles include big books about dinosaurs, rhyming books about dinosaurs and stories about escapee hot dogs. Follow Lily on Instagram and Twitter @lilymurraybooks
548 Market St PMB 65688, San Francisco California 94104-5401 USA
© 2026 Paratext Inc. All rights reserved