An exciting, and sometimes unbelievable, scientific expedition of Earth’s most amazing records!

REVIEWS:

Kirkus Reviews

SIMON ADDS ANOTHER TO HIS MAMMOTH BODY OF SWINGING, SMART SCIENCE BOOKS FOR KIDS. The author devotes four pages each to the most extreme environments and environmental events on Earth: coldest, hottest, driest, highest, deepest, biggest earthquake, largest volcano, most…

SIMON ADDS ANOTHER TO HIS MAMMOTH BODY OF SWINGING, SMART SCIENCE BOOKS FOR KIDS. The author devotes four pages each to the most extreme environments and environmental events on Earth: coldest, hottest, driest, highest, deepest, biggest earthquake, largest volcano, most destructive tsunami and kindred greats. As always—and this is no mean feat—he manages to wow readers, while imparting the scientific circumstances that either create or allow for these phenomena. There is the sheer juicy stuff—temperatures ranging from minus 129 F to 160 F, 56 feet of annual snowfall—but he also adds the human factor (why do 300 people live on Tristan de Cunha, the world’s most remote place?) and introduces the rare flora and fauna. There is an artful blend of text and image, but so much happens in the mind’s eye—a wave traveling at 600 mph, holy cow—that Simon really gets readers thinking. Two grouses: There should have been a photo of Mount Thor on Baffin Island, the greatest pure vertical drop (4100 feet), rather than three waterfall shots; but most egregiously—no maps! Metric measurements are included parenthetically. These places are somewhere—perhaps near, so let’s go—and readers deserve a sense of their location. A dozen earthly gems, buffed high by Simon.

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NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book

Middle level readers are captivated by amazing facts—the highest, rainiest, or wettest places on the planet. And they are easy to find. But what makes Seymour Simon’s book on Earth’s extremes an NSTA/CBC Outstanding Trade Book are the explanations that follow. Readers move from those facts to interesting descriptions of each environment and scientifically–understandable explanations of why. Every illustration is bright, colorful, and accurate. The content is correct and grade–level appropriate. The explanations are broken down so children can understand complex vocabulary. An index will help the addicted reader return to a virtual exploration again to understand more about the variety of habitats on our planet.

Middle level readers are captivated by amazing facts—the highest, rainiest, or wettest places on the planet. And they are easy to find. But what makes Seymour Simon's book on Earth's extremes an NSTA/CBC Outstanding Trade Book are the explanations that follow. Readers move from those facts to interesting descriptions of each environment and scientifically–understandable explanations of why. Every illustration is bright, colorful, and accurate. The content is correct and grade–level appropriate. The explanations are broken down so children can understand complex vocabulary. An index will help the addicted reader return to a virtual exploration again to understand more about the variety of habitats on our planet.

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Library Media Connection

This is a title that will never stay on the shelf.

This is a title that will never stay on the shelf.

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School Library Journal

Gr 3–6—Similar in appeal to the Guinness Book of World Records, this volume combines science with questions such as which is the coldest, hottest, deepest, most destructive, and more. Simon knows how to attract young fact mongers. With his characteristic accuracy, he chooses his words carefully, admitting that scientists "think that" rather than spewing facts that may one day be challenged. Anticipating natural questions like "what is a monsoon?," "why is it called Death Valley?," or "how far can people dive?," boxed details broaden the facts. Full-page and inset color photographs are both informative and eye-catching. Images such as steps to nowhere following a tsunami, flowing lava, raging waterfalls, and accompanying facts are enticing. Particularly effective are stamplike graphics that emphasize the location of some of the images. With specifics that kids will understand, comparisons are offered throughout to give readers a sense of the full impact of the extremes. A discussion of waterfalls includes the detail that you will be arrested and fined if you survive going over Niagara Falls. This is the type of book that can easily lead to more investigation as readers discover fascinating facts and learn a bit about the explorers and scientists who endure extreme conditions and why. - Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library

Gr 3–6—Similar in appeal to the Guinness Book of World Records, this volume combines science with questions such as which is the coldest, hottest, deepest, most destructive, and more. Simon knows how to attract young fact mongers. With his characteristic accuracy, he chooses his words carefully, admitting that scientists "think that" rather than spewing facts that may one day be challenged. Anticipating natural questions like "what is a monsoon?," "why is it called Death Valley?," or "how far can people dive?," boxed details broaden the facts. Full-page and inset color photographs are both informative and eye-catching. Images such as steps to nowhere following a tsunami, flowing lava, raging waterfalls, and accompanying facts are enticing. Particularly effective are stamplike graphics that emphasize the location of some of the images. With specifics that kids will understand, comparisons are offered throughout to give readers a sense of the full impact of the extremes. A discussion of waterfalls includes the detail that you will be arrested and fined if you survive going over Niagara Falls. This is the type of book that can easily lead to more investigation as readers discover fascinating facts and learn a bit about the explorers and scientists who endure extreme conditions and why. - Janet S. Thompson, Chicago Public Library

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Science Books & Films (SB&F)

Seymour Simon’s Extreme Earth Records provides information about places on Earth where extreme conditions exist. The information is excellent and very informative with high quality photos and colorful pages which draws the reader in and keeps interest. With information on extreme weather, waterfalls, volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, deserts, deep sea exploration and more, there is something for everyone. Comparisons to other planets and moons are interesting but on page 43, the author suggests shooting a water pistol off Verona Rupes on Miranda to watch the drops fall but at temperatures of ‑187° C (335° F) drops would freeze falling as ice crystals. Quality information about the adaptations of plants and animals in the extreme locations are provided along with scientific expeditions to the extreme parts of the planet. ‑Pamela J. Galus, Lothrop Science, Spanish and Technology Magnet Center, Omaha, NE

Seymour Simon's Extreme Earth Records provides information about places on Earth where extreme conditions exist. The information is excellent and very informative with high quality photos and colorful pages which draws the reader in and keeps interest. With information on extreme weather, waterfalls, volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, deserts, deep sea exploration and more, there is something for everyone. Comparisons to other planets and moons are interesting but on page 43, the author suggests shooting a water pistol off Verona Rupes on Miranda to watch the drops fall but at temperatures of ‑187° C (335° F) drops would freeze falling as ice crystals. Quality information about the adaptations of plants and animals in the extreme locations are provided along with scientific expeditions to the extreme parts of the planet. ‑Pamela J. Galus, Lothrop Science, Spanish and Technology Magnet Center, Omaha, NE

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Donalyn Miller/The Book Whisperer

An engaging format with informative text about Earth’s extreme destinations, this book offers young readers topics for further inquiry.

An engaging format with informative text about Earth's extreme destinations, this book offers young readers topics for further inquiry.

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Elizabeth Byrd, Librarian Preview, SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL

The nice thing about Seymour Simon is that for all that he’s prolific, his books are consistently good and, more to the point, they get checked out regularly. But rather than cover the usual rote topics, this time Mr. Simon…

The nice thing about Seymour Simon is that for all that he’s prolific, his books are consistently good and, more to the point, they get checked out regularly. But rather than cover the usual rote topics, this time Mr. Simon is going a slightly different route with his Seymour Simon’s Extreme Earth Records. It’s a book of extremes, from deepest to coldest to crazy weather to plants and so much more. Plus the photos. Gotta love them photos.

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