Earth is the only planet in our Solar System with water on its surface—more than 1.5 quintillion tons of water—and it’s constantly in motion.

REVIEWS:

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, Rosanne Cerny, Queens Borough Public Library, NY

Gr 3-5. Excellent introductory titles. Simon presents clear, simplified explanations of natural phenomena with well-chosen full-color photographs that go beyond decoration, becoming integral parts of the texts. Spectacular photos of the deserts of the American southwest are used to show…

Gr 3-5. Excellent introductory titles. Simon presents clear, simplified explanations of natural phenomena with well-chosen full-color photographs that go beyond decoration, becoming integral parts of the texts. Spectacular photos of the deserts of the American southwest are used to show the various features from rippling sand, to wind-eroded rock formations, to the sparse vegetation characteristic of the area. There is a little information on how both plant and animal life have adapted to the harsh climate, and on the wonderful public lands such as Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon, etc. The maps on the endpapers show the major deserts (except for Antarctica), but the rest of the world's desert areas, while occasionally mentioned in the discussion, are not represented in the photo selections. In the second book, Simon explores the magnitude of the oceans and their impact on the Earth's climate. He includes good black-and-white diagrams of how tides work and how waves form and transfer energy. The endpapers are maps of the world showing how and where the major currents flow.

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BOOKLIST

Remarkable.

Remarkable.

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THE HORN BOOK

Visually stunning.

Visually stunning.

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CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

Water, water everywhere, and as Simon points out, more than 70 percent of the earth’s surface is covered by oceans-one big ocean, and the continents are really islands in this vast body of water. The photographs include some taken from space and computer enhanced to show the terrain under the oceans and ocean currents, such as what happens when El Niño enters the scene. Illustrations demystify tides and wave action and Simon, a former teacher, makes his explanations quite kid friendly. A good introduction to oceans for kids and their parents.

Water, water everywhere, and as Simon points out, more than 70 percent of the earth's surface is covered by oceans-one big ocean, and the continents are really islands in this vast body of water. The photographs include some taken from space and computer enhanced to show the terrain under the oceans and ocean currents, such as what happens when El Niño enters the scene. Illustrations demystify tides and wave action and Simon, a former teacher, makes his explanations quite kid friendly. A good introduction to oceans for kids and their parents.

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