Surtsey: The Newest Place On Earth [Hardcover]

Kathryn Lasky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1900 | Age Level: 9 and up

Describes the formation, naming, and colonization of the twenty-seven-year-old volcanic island Surtsey and how the first animals and plants became established there.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7-- None of us were there when the Galapagos came thrusting upward from the ocean's floor, nor when the Hawaiian Islands burst into air from the Pacific depths, but we do know what they looked like, sounded like, smelled like: like Surtsey, born in fire on a raw November day in 1963, surging above the waves of the cold North Atlantic some 70 odd miles southeast of Reykjavik, Iceland. Here, in a sometimes lyrical text, accompanied by dramatic full-color photographs and apt quotations from Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda (A.D. 1220-1230), readers are introduced to the brief history of this harsh, bitter land. Along with excited scientists, they enter a living laboratory and watch as life struggles to develop precarious footholds--rather like entering a time machine to Earth's firey beginnings. Well-organized, finely tooled, and beautifully designed--a treat for inquiring minds and eyes. --Patricia Manning, Eastchester Public Library, NY
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (January 1, 1900)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1562823000
• ISBN-13: 978-1562823009
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,457,311 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hi Readers! Thanks for coming by my author page. I've written all sorts of books - from fantasy about animals to books about science. One of my favorite animal fantasy series, Guardians of Ga'Hoole, is a major motion picture. I liked writing about Ga'Hoole so much that I decided to revisit that world in a new series, Wolves of the Beyond. Visit my website, www.kathrynlasky.com to see a slide show about the real wolves I researched for the series and for the latest update on the Guardians of Ga'Hoole movie. All my best, Kathryn

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Covers the basics about Surtsey, January 14, 2003

By 

Mona Parikh "aries1996" (McPherson, KS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Surtsey: The Newest Place On Earth (Hardcover)

This book was aimed to be read by a younger audience (kids ages 7-14). It covers information about formation of the island and the colonization of the island in a simple written manner. I also like the way it divides the book into 11 chapters and adds something about the poetic Edda at the start of each chapter to relay how mythology interplays with realistic events like the formation of such an island. But as an adult reader, I still had more questions after I finished the book.

The book does not go in depth about the geological nature of the island. Yes, the island was formed from a volcanic eruption, but what is the nature and quality of the land? Will it be settled by Man as it has been by birds and plant-life? What is the future of such an island? (The book implies at the end that it will be destroyed, but does not tell the reader the specifics of how/when/why). I was looking to answer such questions more in depth about this new island.

The stength of this book lies in its remarkable pictures. If only you could get some of these astonishing pictures as a poster and hang them up on your walls...You would stare at them in awe for hours!

As far as buying it...it would be worth your money if you have kids who like volcanos or like to read because they would be able to appreciate it more. If not, it would be worth getting it to read at a public library or a used book. I would not spend too much money obtaining it.