Volcanoes can erupt and send red-hot rocks and ash flying through the air for hundreds of miles around.

REVIEWS:

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, Stephen W. Zsiray, Jr., Cache County School District, North Logan, Utah

Gr 3-7. Simon presents information on volcanoes to young readers in an understandable text and colorful format. While Lauber’s Volcano (Bradbury, 1986) primarily describes the life cycle of Mount St. Helens, this book provides a general overview of the types…

Gr 3-7. Simon presents information on volcanoes to young readers in an understandable text and colorful format. While Lauber's Volcano (Bradbury, 1986) primarily describes the life cycle of Mount St. Helens, this book provides a general overview of the types of volcanoes found around the world. It does not replace, but complements, Lauber's work. Further, it can be used successfully to generate interest on the part of those readers reluctant to pick up nonfiction books, as Simon gives readers an armchair tour of some of the more impressive volcanoes around the world: Mount St. Helens, the undersea volcanoes in Iceland, and Mauna Loa in Hawaii. The book is graced with many illuminating color photos that bring the text to life. However, the illustration of the plates, or crust layers of the earth, is somewhat difficult to understand. Better diagrams can be found in the adult source, Cottrell's Born of Fire: the Volcanic Origins of Yellowstone National Park (Rinehart, 1987). Still, this is a useful and attractive addition to science collections, as it is likely to become a favorite choice of young scientists.

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CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

This book combines many elements that children find fascinating-fire, rock, explosions. In his usual clear, accurate prose, Simon describes the types of volcanoes and explains the process of volcanic eruption. Details are provided about recent eruptions such as those in…

This book combines many elements that children find fascinating-fire, rock, explosions. In his usual clear, accurate prose, Simon describes the types of volcanoes and explains the process of volcanic eruption. Details are provided about recent eruptions such as those in Iceland (Surtsey) and Hawaii (Kilauea). Crisp photographs supplement the text; especially enjoyable are the "before-and-after" shots of Mount St. Helens.

Mr. Simon's brief, tight narrative about four major types of volcanoes is accompanied by striking full-page photographs that include Mt. St. Helens' eruption, the island of Surtsey's formation, and Hawaiian volcanic activity. The science is clear and the photographs are crisp and stunning.

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