I’m just back from China, so I missed the official publication date, but it’s out! It’s alive! The Children’s Book of the Future, co-written by me and futurist Richard Watson, and illustrated by the terrific Cinthya Alvarez, is out now from DK!
See some of the nice things people have said about it!
“Teleported my brain to worlds of wonder and delight!” – Samit Basu, author of The City Inside and The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport
“Eye-opening, funny and visually delightful! Perfect for young readers and families to explore together, The Children’s Book of the Future is a must-have for anyone who dreams of what tomorrow might bring.” – Chen Qiufan, author of The Waste Tide and AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future
“Finally, a book about the future for those who will live in that future! From exploring our solar system to finding other inhabitants in nearby star systems, this a book about and for those who will be the first earthlings to journey beyond our planet.” – Dr. Seth Shostak, Senior Astronomer, SETI Institute.
“Amazing and astounding: a kaleidoscope of marvellous and inspiring futures. This is a book to lose yourself in.” – Prof. Adam Roberts, FRSL, award-winning author of The Thing Itself and Stealing for the Skies
“Read this book with your kids, and let hope become a verb.” – Prof. Roger Steare, FRSA, the Corporate Philosopher.
“Marvellous! This is going to inspire children, and I dare say a number of adults, all around the world to dream big! Entertaining, informative, and a feast for the eyes—the future in this book belongs to everyone, and is filled with hope!” – Lavanya Lakshminarayan, author of Analog/Virtual: And Other Simulations of Your Future
“A timely and important book.” – Professor Arthur I. Miller, author of The Artist in the Machine: The World of AI-Powered Creativity
“The only thing wrong with the Children’s Book of the Future is that it didn’t exist fifty years ago! If it had, I’d have gulped it down. Right here and now, though, one couldn’t ask for a more vibrant, engaging and downright fun guide to the world of tomorrow. It’s unfashionably optimistic and I love it for that. Lavie and Richard have done the future proud.” – Alastair Reynolds, astrophysicist and best-selling author of Revelation Space and Eversion.
“Our children hear many reasons to be afraid of the future, and not many to be hopeful. The Children’s Book Of The Future is a beautiful, ideas-packed introduction to a world to look forward to – a world we can all help to make.” – Sumit Paul-Choudhury, former New Scientist editor-in-chief and author of The Bright Side
“Ours is an age of anxiety, and a book like this is the cure. It’s a joyous reminder of the wondrousness of possible high-tech futures. Sure, we like to make nightmare scenarios out of cloned Neanderthals, cities populated by robots, sentient undersea computers and visiting aliens—but what if these really did come to pass, and they were just really nice to human kids? It’s hopepunk without the cheesiness, and with a whole lot of cool science and history to boot.” – Ng Yi-Sheng, Singapore Literature Prize winner and author of Lion City
“Inspiring and thought-provoking” Professor Roberto Trotta, author of Starborn
“I read and enjoyed The Children’s Book of the Future so much. This book is a hopeful, timely and exhilerating panorama of our future for young readers. It will engage the imagination of all children, not only those with an interest in science and technology, with its colourful and inclusive illustrations and succint, well-researched snippets of information.” Gita Ralleigh, Author, The Destiny of Minou Moonshine.
Lavie Tidhar 