Earthsteps: A Rock's Journey through Time [Hardcover]

Diane Nelson Spickert (Author), Marianne D. Wallace (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 31, 2000 | Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Describes the geological setting for the transformation of a rock to a grain of sand over the course of millions of years.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

K-Gr 3-The 250-million-year journey of a rock is told, from its first fall from a mountaintop to its formation into sandstone. The book opens with a nicely rendered geologic time scale that highlights the various periods and changes that occurred. Attractive illustrations have the appearance of dioramas created with animal toys, leaves, and shells. The rock's journey is geologically accurate, moving from large to small through the effects of weathering. The animals that pass by it, particularly the dinosaurs, add interest. The problem with this book is that the story format and the science don't mesh. While the whole sweep of geologic history is surely dramatic, the tale of one random rock lacks the characterization necessary for a good story. The rock, appropriately not personified, is unaware of what is happening to it. Whole geologic periods pass with the slightest note: "Permian conifers surrounded the pond." The language, necessarily scientific and defined in a glossary, doesn't help to move the story along: "Imbedded in the alluvial fan, the rock overlooked a shallow pond." Children drawn to the illustrations are unlikely to have enough prior geologic knowledge to stick with the text. Still, there will be a few very young, gifted geologists who will find this fascinating.-Ellen Heath, Orchard School, Ridgewood, NJ

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-6. Following a rock over millions of years could be like watching paint dry. In this case, the watching is well worth the 250-million-year trip. The transformation of an ordinary rock begins in the Permian Period and continues to the present day. The story starts when Dimetrodon walked the earth and granite valleys hugged shallow ponds. Through the Triassic and Jurassic periods and beyond, the rock changes, and so does the earth. The mica-speckled rock bears silent witness to the transforming animal and plant life all around it. Even though this large rock ends up as a speck of sand, the beauty and drama around it are nicely realized in full-color paintings. Denia Hester
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Fulcrum Publishing (July 31, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555919863
• ISBN-13: 978-1555919863
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,000,841 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Children are fascinated by this book!, April 9, 2001

By 

Kathleen Ward (Lake Arrowhead, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Earthsteps: A Rock's Journey through Time (Hardcover)

I enthusiastically recommend this book! Who knew that the journey of a rock through time was dramatic AND fascinating? When was the last time you considered how a simple rock came to be? This story is as educational as it is entertaining to the children who have read it in my home. I had a five-year-old guest for the weekend, and THIS is the book she wanted out of all the books in my library. She was drawn to this rock and cared what happened to it. It was fun for her to "find" the rock in every beautiful illustration. Every time I read it to the younger children, I learn a little more, too!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Journey to Enjoy, April 4, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Earthsteps: A Rock's Journey through Time (Hardcover)

*Earthsteps: A Rock's Journey Through Time* is one of those rare children's books that an adult can also enjoy reading over and over. The illustrations complement the thoughtful and intelligent text, making it a journey to enjoy and to learn from at the same time. My 14 year old read it eagerly, as did my 11 year old. I expected that because they are both voracious readers who have a geologist father, but what I was delighted by was the excited interest of the 5 through 9 year olds to whom I read it at the school where I substitute teach regularly. I highly recommend this fine work to everyone.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Earthsteps: A Rock's Journey Through Time, March 22, 2001

By 

Cheryl Shaw (Golden, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Earthsteps: A Rock's Journey through Time (Hardcover)

Historically accurate! We could find lots of books about dinosaurs, but very little about geology for children. What we liked about this book is that it is scientifically sound, yet not too complicated for children.