From Publishers Weekly
While Elizabeth builds a mountain out of wet sand, the geological concept of mountain formation is clearly explained and impressively illustrated. Ages 4-7.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Kindergarten-Grade 3 A comparison of the eons-long story of the formation and evolution of a mountain with the afternoon-long existence of a little girl's sand mountain. The book is illustrated with vividly colored, dynamic watercolor paintings. Each two-page spread features a large painting of one stage in the large mountain's development plus a smaller, rectangular painting of Elizabeth working diligently on her sand mountain superimposed on it. Each left-hand page describes a stage in the mountain's development, while each right-hand page describes Elizabeth's work, attempting to show how both mountains are affected by the forces of sun, wind, and rain. The scientific information given is simple but accurate; however, very young children will not have the background information to absorb the analogy presented. In some pictures the mountain is shown cross-sectioned with inner layers exposed, but the text doesn't explain what the ``stripes'' represent, why they are there, or that such layers are found through the earth. Similarly, there is no generalization from the story of this unique mountain to earth's geology in general. Children at different levels will understand different aspects of this presentation; children old enough to best appreciate the analogy may be put off by the picture book format. However, this striking picture book deserves shelf space as a book for children to share individually with an adult available to explain and interpret, or as a companion book to amplify and illustrate a primary grade geology unit. Susan L. Rogers, Chestnut Hill Academy, Pa.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
