Earthquakes and Volcanoes (Reader's Digest Pathfinders) - Hardcover

Whether you believe earthquakes are caused by a giant catfish thrashing its tail (as the ancient Japanese did) or the shifting and colliding of Earth's tectonic plates, chances are you're fascinated by (and maybe a bit afraid of) these earthly hiccups. Volcanoes, too, with their beautiful, deadly, red-hot lava flows, are the source of much legend, fear, and scientific study. Learn all about these igneous events in the big, fact-packed Earthquakes and Volcanoes. With lots of photos, illustrations, and charts, compelling text, and a variety of fun features, this book carves a path to learning for any young reader. Within each section (Dynamic Earth, Earthquakes, Volcanoes), two-page chapters provide information on fault lines, monitoring earthquakes, geysers and hot springs, volcanic landscapes, and much more. In addition, each chapter includes some or all of these features: eyewitness accounts (Inside Story), creative learning activities (Hands On), word and phrase origins (Word Builders), extraordinary facts (That's Amazing!), and cool ways to find out more about related subjects (Pathfinder). Real-life stories from Japan, California, Israel, and even Venus give chilling power to the informative, occasionally textbookish words. The spectacular pictures, of course, speak for themselves. A glossary gives meanings to terms like "asthenosphere," "flood basalt," "lava bomb," and "pyroclastic flow." A terrific school or home resource. (Ages 9 and older) --Emilie Coulter

Reviewed with Matthew Robertson's Insects and Spiders.

Gr. 4-8. Part of the Reader's Digest Pathfinders series, these inviting, oversize volumes combine fascinating facts and hands-on activities in a series of double-page spreads with lots of bright, clear, full-color illustrations and computer graphics. The lively captions and boxed screens will appeal to browsers; there's also more detailed information for those who want to know more. The volume on insects and spiders presents entomology in an easy, colloquial style that makes the science immediate and accessible, from mosquito menace to the insect-plant connection. The book on earthquakes and volcanoes is dramatic about the geology and about particular earthquake disasters and major volcanic eruptions. Some readers may be irritated by all the puns ("Total Makeover," "On Shaky Ground", etc.), but most will enjoy the combination of catchy headline and exciting science. Young grade-schoolers can talk about these books with an adult; older readers can follow the extensive cross-references for personal interest or as a starting place for reports. Both books include long, full glossaries of technical terms. Hazel Rochman
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