Oliver’s Great Big Universe #3: Evolution Changes Everything! A Novel
Oliver’s Great Big Universe #3: Evolution Changes Everything! by Jorge Cham is a middle-grade novel published by Abrams, Incorporated in 2025. This edition features 256 pages and is presented in English. The story follows Oliver, who, in his quest for a new computer, decides to write a book about animals to raise money. His exploration leads him to ponder the origins of life and evolution, covering a range of topics from primordial soup to dinosaurs and even humans.
Readers will find a blend of humor and science as Oliver navigates his school life and friendships while working on his book. Alongside his chores for a retired paleontologist neighbor, Oliver’s journey is filled with amusing situations that highlight the challenges of growing up. The book combines engaging cartoon-style illustrations with a narrative that emphasizes themes of friendship and curiosity about the natural world, making it a unique addition to the series.
Official synopsis Publisher
“Mind-expanding and hilarious! I got smarter reading this!” –Jeff Kinney, author of the international bestselling series Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Science meets Diary of a Wimpy Kid in this original illustrated middle-grade fiction series that blends science with narrative from bestselling author-artist Jorge Cham, the Emmy Award-nominated creator of PBS’s Elinor Wonders Why
Oliver needs a new computer because nobody wants to play with him as every move and save takes way too long. To raise money, he has the brilliant idea to write another book and sell it at school. So, he picks a topic he thinks lots of kids will like–animals.
But when he starts to think about it, he wonders where do animals come from, and that leads him to wonder where life comes from and how animals evolve. Subjects range from the origins of life (primordial soup and life in early Earth–mostly scum/bacteria) to small organisms and fish to dinosaurs, of course! Mass extinctions. Cats, dogs, horses and chickens. And oh yes, people!
Along with making his new book, Oliver’s also doing chores for neighbors to make money, including odd jobs for the old cat lady down the street, who, as it turns out, is a retired paleontologist. (Not just any paleontologist, but as it’s revealed later, a famous one.) As Oliver does chores for her, she fills him in on the history of life on earth.
Meanwhile, Oliver is doing great with his group of friends. But as they all get excited to help him with the book, this causes trouble, leading to a mild breakup of the group which all gets resolved at the end in typical Oliver-esque humorous fashion.
With laugh-out-loud humor and cartoon-style illustrations from bestselling writer and the creator of PHD Comics Jorge Cham, Oliver’s Great Big Universe is a STEAM-themed, diary-style series following one kid who’s taking on the whole universe–if he can survive middle school first.
More from Oliver’s Great Big Universe series:
Oliver’s Great Big Universe (#1)
Oliver’s Great Big Universe: Volcanoes Are Hot! (#2)
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