• Age: 9 to 12
• Grade: 4 to 7
• Reading age: 9 to 12

Let’s talk.

We don’t think much about our ability to communicate. We simply have a conversation, make a call, send a text or use sign language to share information. But how was human language invented? And when?

Communication is a way for us to express ourselves, share information and maintain relationships with others. Hundreds of years ago, humans needed to communicate to hunt, farm and defend against threats. Today, thanks to satellites and computers, we can communicate in an instant with just about anyone on Earth. Can We Talk? examines the evolution of human communication—from the theories about how spoken language began to the technological advances that connect the world now.

The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

MARIA BIRMINGHAM is a longstanding contributor to OWL and Chickadee magazines, and the award-winning author of several books for young people, including Acting Wild, Biometrics, and A Beginner's Guide to Immortality: From Alchemy to Avatars. Maria lives in Brampton, Ontario.

Maria Birmingham's profile page

Xulin Wang is an award-winning Canadian-Chinese illustrator, cartoonist, writer and muralist based in Toronto. They write and illustrate comics at the intersection of science and social justice. As a lifelong learner passionate about education and science communication, they've dedicated their career to translating complex ideas into compelling and understandable illustrations.

Xulin Wang's profile page

“An intriguing look at how humans have stayed connected through the ages.”

Kirkus Reviews

“Provides an excellent overview of human communication and its history. Everyone can learn something new about human communication from this book and be inspired to find out more. Xulin’s lively and colourful illustrations bring the concepts to life visually. Highly Recommended.”

CM: Canadian Review of Materials