Tag Archives: Earth Science

Elem. – Volcanoes

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Beckerman, Nell Cross. Volcanoes. Illustrated by Kalen Chock. Orchard Books, 2024. 978-1-338-87467-9. 40 p. $19.99. Grades K-3. 

Volcanoes erupt all around the world each day, but scientists still have a lot of questions about what makes these eruptions occur, how to predict them, and from where all the molten rock comes. This title, told in alternating free verse and informational prose, describes how volcanoes are vents in the earth that release lava, ash, steam, and rocks. It also details the work volcanologists do each day, studying volcanoes and measuring changes that help us understand when they might pose danger to people in surrounding areas. Additional information about volcanoes on the ocean floor and volcanoes on other planets is included as well. Backmatter includes an Author’s Note, Illustrator’s Note, Books for Further Reading, and Descriptions of the Five Different Kinds of Volcanic Eruptions, including details about Hawaiian Eruptions, Strombolian Eruptions, Vulcanian Eruptions, Pelean Eruptions, and Plinian Eruptions.

THOUGHTS: This will be an informative and attractive addition to elementary collections. Share with science teachers, nonfiction enthusiasts, and library browsers. The limited text and full-page illustrations will be a draw for reluctant readers as well.

551.24 Volcanoes

Elem. – My Towering Tree

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Matthies, Janna. My Towering Tree. Illustrated by Ashley Wolff. Beach Lane Books, 2024. 978-1-665-91193-1. 32 p. $18.99. Grades K-3. 

This cumulative poem is an ode to the simple pleasures of sitting under the branches of a tall tree and enjoying quiet time with nature. The story begins with a young girl swinging under a backyard tree. She admires the tree’s height and leaves, and she notices the many creatures that call it home, including squirrels, bees, and robins. The girl jots observations and drawings in a notebook, tracking how tomatoes grow in a nearby bed pollinated by buzzing bees. She’s tickled by the gentle breeze and warm rays of sunshine, inspiring readers to appreciate the gifts nature shares with us each day. Readers will enjoy lingering over the colorful gouache and pan pastel illustrations that highlight the bustling backyard. Careful readers will note how the yard changes over time, including a nest of hatching robin eggs and other birds that make their home in the tree’s tall limbs. 

THOUGHTS: The repetitive text and simple rhymes make this a solid choice for reading aloud. It will be a relatable addition for Earth Day, Arbor Day, or spring storytimes. It will also fit well with lessons focused on mindfulness or self-reflection. 

Picture Book

Elem. – How the Sea Came to Be (and All the Creatures in It)

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Berne, Jennifer. How the Sea Came to Be (and All the Creatures in It). Illustrated by Amanda Hall. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2023. 978-0-802-85478-0. $18.99. 56 p. Grades 2-5.

4.6 billion years ago our Earth was formed. For the next 600 million years the Earth’s surface was hot enough to melt rock. As the Earth began to cool, water formed from condensation, creating clouds and rain. Our oceans were born, and along with them came the first signs of single-cell life. Two billion years ago oxygen began to fill the oceans and atmosphere leading to more complex lifeforms in the oceans. This beautiful nonfiction picture book tells the story of the creation of the oceans and the life within them in rhymed verse. From the fiery start in bold reds and oranges, through the cooling period in icy shades of blue, and the eventual growth of life in luscious greens, the illustrations depict thousands of pre-historic and current day ocean creatures with detailed accuracy. End notes from the author and illustrator explain that our understanding of how the oceans formed is constantly evolving. This book’s information is based on what is currently known about the formation of the Earth, our oceans, and ocean life. Extensively illustrated factual information, recommendations for further research, reading, and viewing for students and educators as well as a selected biography, timeline, and glossary are all included.

THOUGHTS: A treasure trove of extensively researched information in a beautifully illustrated verse story. Useful as a read aloud, read alone, or elementary research resource.

551.46 Oceans

YA – The Monster’s Bones: The Discovery of T. Rex and How It Shook Our World

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Randall, David K. The Monster’s Bones: The Discovery of T. Rex and How It Shook Our World. Norton Young Readers, 2023. 978-1-324-06453-4. 192 p. $19.95. Grades 7-12.

This captivating read reveals the birth of American paleontology, the dogged determination behind the discovery of the first T. Rex fossil, and the making of a modern American museum. The title is a bit misleading; while T. Rex is included in all its glory, the real focus here is on the young scientist, enthusiast, and adventurer Barnum Brown.  How did a young man born & raised on a Kansas farm and coal mine become an unstoppable world explorer? How did a centuries old fossil, admittedly large, come to capture the imagination of Americans and revolutionize history, science, literature, film and more? Randall succeeds in providing a detailed account of Brown’s life and his surprising skill at locating dinosaur bones. When in 1902 he dug up the first Tyrannosaurus Rex, the world noticed. Put on display in the struggling American Museum of Natural History, led by the wealthy Henry Fairfield Osborn, the colossal one-of-a-kind fossil ignited the public and ushered in support for the fledgling field of paleontology, and a race for who would find the next fossil as well. Brown never stopped and became the undisputed expert on dinosaur fossils. His energy seeps through every page of this book.

THOUGHTS: This young readers’ edition of Randall’s The Monster’s Bones (2022) will draw in readers interested in dinosaurs, American history, and excellent narrative nonfiction. This is a must-purchase for all middle and high school collections.

973 American History

Elem. – Earth Cycles (Series NF)

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Gieseke, Tyler. Earth Cycles. ABDO Publishing, 2023. $22.95 ea. $137.70 set of 6. 32 pgs. Grades 2-5.

The Carbon Cycle. 978-1-098-24219-0.
Migration Cycles. 978-1-098-24220-6.
Plant and Animal Life Cycles. 978-1-098-24221-3.
The Rock Cycle. 978-1-098-24222-0.
The Water Cycle. 978-1-098-24223-7.
Weather Cycles. 978-1-098-24224-4.

This reader had the opportunity to review The Water Cycle. There are many different cycles found on Earth related to plants, animals, even the weather. The Water Cycle attempts to break down in simple terms how the water cycle works from beginning to end. There are four chapters: an overview chapter, a chapter on evaporation, a chapter on condensation, and a chapter on precipitation. There is a glossary at the back of the book, as well as an index. There are QR codes throughout the book that lead to videos, games, or just more information about the topic. There also is an online resources section in the back of the book.

THOUGHTS: This is a great introduction to the water cycle and would make a decent read aloud, even if you only read parts of the book. This book would make a great research starter for younger grades and could be used as supplemental research material for slightly older students or learning support students.

500s Earth Science

Tags; water cycle, earth, science, series nonfiction.

Elem. – How to Make a Mountain in Just 9 Simple Steps and Only 100 Million Years!

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Huntington, Amy. How to Make a Mountain in Just 9 Simple Steps and Only 100 Million Years! Illustrated by Nancy Lemon. Chronicle Books, 2022. 978-1-452-17588-1. $18.99. 68 p. Grades K-3.

Mountains, of course, take millions of years to develop. If you can transcend time and need specific, but simple, directions on how to create a mountain, this is the book for you! The book is also a very easy to understand step-by-step explanation of how mountain ranges form, change and grow, and are populated by vegetation and animal life. All it really takes is a very big rock in the right place at the right time, with the right conditions… and a very long time. This amusing book (with quirky digital pencil and gouache illustrations by Nancy Lemon) makes a potentially boring topic fun and understandable. Giving excellent, age-appropriate explanations of tectonic shift, glacial impact, and changing weather patterns, this title offers a great perspective on the continued evolution of Earth.

THOUGHTS: This is a very informative book with a fun, whimsical tone. Great resource to support elementary geology, earth sciences, and environmental literacy/sustainability curriculum standards. 

551.8 Geology, Hydrology, Meteorology          Anne McKernan, Council Rock SD

Elem. – Science Questions (Series NF)

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Andrews, Elizabeth. Science Questions (Set 2). Abdo Kids, 2022. $21.95 ea. $131.70 set of 6. 24 p. Gr. K-3. 

How Do Fish Breathe? 978-1-098-24107-0.
How Do Puppies Get Their Colors? 978-1-098-24108-7.
How Does a Body Heal? 978-1-098-24109-4.
How Does Plumbing Work? 978-1-098-24110-0.
Why Do Volcanoes Erupt? 978-1-098-24111-7.
Why Does a Boat Float? 978-1-098-24112-4.

The Science Questions series from Abdo Publishing is back with another six volumes answering common student questions regarding science. Each volume examines a science-related question, explaining the answer using age-appropriate language and terminology. This reviewer had the opportunity to examine How Do Fish Breathe?, a question that many children undoubtedly have wondered when watching fish in a tank or in the wild. The volume explains how oxygen is present in water and how fish use their gills to help distribute oxygen throughout their bodies. The volume closes with a brief chapter mentioning how climate change is causing falling oxygen levels in the ocean. Each volume features numerous high quality photographs, diagrams, a glossary, and making connections questions. In addition, a QR code is present where readers can access online resources such as videos, links, and activities (word search, coloring page, etc.). 

THOUGHTS: Children naturally are curious and questioning–this series is a great option to hand students with science related interests or questions. The series (and the online supplemental material) also would be useful in elementary classroom science lessons. Recommended. 

500s Science                Elizabeth Henry, Lampeter-Strasburg SD

Elem. – Only One

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Hopkinson, Deborah. Only One. Anne Schwartz Books, 2022. 978-0-399-55703-3. Unpaged. $17.99. Grades K-3.

A young narrator takes readers on a walk through the woods as she explains how, with a big bang, one tiny speck turned into a universe full of stars, planets, galaxies, and more. Situated in this universe is our Earth, which is surrounded by a layer called the atmosphere and contains continents, oceans, and millions of species. Ultimately, the narrator finishes the same way she began–with one. She declares that even though there are more than seven billion human beings, all of us unique, we all are still part of one human family responsible for preserving our one and only planet, Earth. 

THOUGHTS: Through an informational monologue and soft, beautiful illustrations, the narrator manages to educate while simultaneously relaying an important message about protecting our planet. Also, at the end of the story, the author provides a list of resources for additional information about climate change and how we can help the Earth. This is an excellent resource for earth science, space science, and environmental science collections.

Picture Book          Julie Ritter, PSLA Member

Elem. – The Stars: A Gazillion Suns

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Perdew, Laura. The Stars: A Gazillion Suns (Picture Book Science). Nomad Press, 2021. 29 p. 978-1-619-30992-0. $9.95. Grades K-3.

This nonfiction picture book introduces the reader to the basic principles about the galaxy and the stars. The book goes over information about the sun in our solar system, how stars are created, why they twinkle, as well as how they end. Throughout the book, there are two extraterrestrial commentators who have silly commentary to the reader, and at the end of the book there is an activity for the reader to complete related to the constellations. There is also a glossary in the back of the book; however, there is no table of contents.

THOUGHTS: This is a great introduction to space and the constellations for a young reader. The addition of the two extraterrestrial commentators is a great choice by the author, and the illustrations add to the charm of the whole book. Highly recommended for an elementary collection. 

523.8 Constellations          Mary McEndree, Lehigh Valley Regional Charter Academy

Elem. – Hello Earth! Poems to Our Planet

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Sidman, Joyce. Hello Earth! Poems to Our Planet. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2021. 978-0-8028-5528-2. 62 p. $18.99. Grades 3-6.

This collection of free verse poetry about Earth was first published in Spain in 2016. An example of creative nonfiction, this volume contains verses in which a narrator, representing “some of your children-the human ones,” talks to the planet about its wonders. Sidman begins with a poem (“Floating”) about Earth’s place in the solar system and in the next two, brings us back to its surface. Following this, the narrator chats with Earth about its age, formation, and history, asking “What was your favorite part?” Other poems focus on volcanoes, earthquakes, continents, day and night, ecosystems, water and plants, giving us a good look at our world. The oversized volume ends by reminding us to enjoy the amazing marvels of our planet and to take care of it.  The back matter provides more information, organized by topic and its related poem(s). Sidman’s works are best known for stunning illustrations and creative layouts. By contrast, the watercolor and acrylic drawings by Miren Asiain Lora may not seem as engaging. People are drawn on a small scale and the font is subdued and orderly. Perhaps this is done to focus our full attention on Mother Earth. A class of Earth Science students and their National Geographic certified teacher helped Sidman with understanding “how Earth works.”

THOUGHTS: This book of verse is perfect for Earth Day storytimes and works as an introduction to Earth Science Units. This imaginative work is a great addition to elementary collections, especially where poetry is popular.

811 Poetry          Denise Medwick, Retired, PSLA Member