Will It Blow?: Become a Volcano Detective at Mount St. Helens [Hardcover]

Elizabeth Rusch (Author), K. E. Lewis (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 6 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Mount St. Helens is a master of disguises, adept at sending out false clues. Can anyone figure out what's going on with this active volcano in Washington State? This illustrated book presents a wealth of easily digested information — covering underground gases, earthquakes, infrared measurements, bumps on earth's surface, and other factors — to help the budding Sherlock Holmes crack the case. With sidebars about the latest gadgets and gizmos, youngsters learn about volcanology while having fun.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A humor-spiced geologic adventure that entertains and informs." -- Richard Hill, science writer for the Oregonian

"Part comic book, part scrapbook, part puzzle book, Will It Blow? is so much fun that kids won't even realize how much they're learning." -- Kristin Hostetter, Gear Editor, Backpacker Magazine

"This charming book draws young science sleuths into one of geology's greatest mysteries..." -- Sandi Doughton, science reporter, Seattle Times

"What an enjoyable and informative book! Even after covering volcanoes for many years, I learned something." -- Andre Stepankowsky, the Longview Daily News, winner of a Pulitzer for coverage of Mount St. Helens' 1980 eruption

"Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Read this fabulous book! Double-oh-fun for aspiring volcano detectives of any age." -- Heather Vogel Frederick, author of the popular Spy Mice series

From the Publisher

Will It Blow? blows other volcano books away. It is more current, more thorough, and more fun than any other volcano book on the shelves. The science -- and the suspense -- pop from every page with the help of K.E. Lewis's lively and accurate illustrations.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Hardcover: 48 pages
• Publisher: Sasquatch Books (April 17, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1570615101
• ISBN-13: 978-1570615108
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 0.4 x 11.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,063,823 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Elizabeth Rusch is an award-winning magazine writer and children's book author. She writes both fiction and nonfiction for children and adults in the areas of science, art, humor, child development, health, the environment, sports, outdoors, travel, and social issues -- anything that catches her fancy.

Elizabeth Rusch's first children' book, Generation Fix, was a Smithsonian magazine Notable Children's Book and a finalist for the International Reading Association's Children's Book Award and the Oregon Book Award. Will It Blow?: Become a Volcano Detective at Mount St. Helens was named a Natural History magazine best book for young readers, a Washington Reads pick, and a finalist for the Oregon Book Award. The Planet Hunter: The story behind what happened to Pluto was also finalist for the Oregon Book Award and her book A Day with No Crayons won the OBA's Eloise Jarvis McGraw Award in Children's Literature.

As an award-winning freelance writer and former managing editor of Teacher magazine, editor-in-chief of PointsBeyond.com, and contributing editor to Child and Fit Pregnancy, Rusch has published more than 100 articles in numerous national magazines for children and adults. Her publishing credits include Muse, Read, American Girl, Harper's, Mother Jones, Smithsonian, Parenting, Smithsonian, Backpacker, and Portland Monthly, among many others.

Her literary awards include the Kay Snow Literary Award, a Maggie Award, and an Oregon Literary Fellowship, among others.

She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband and two children.

www.elizabethrusch.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You can use this book in your classroom, January 23, 2008

By 

M. Dalton - See all my reviews

This review is from: Will It Blow?: Become a Volcano Detective at Mount St. Helens (Paperback)

As an after school teacher with elementary school students, I find it can be very difficult to engage my students in anything academic. I have used Will It Blow? as the basis for a few of my classroom activities with great success. In the book, kids are challenged to solve the mysteries of Mount St. Helens' latest eruption by becoming "volcano detectives" themselves. The book's subject and approach inspires many different kinds of discussions with my students. We've talked about anything from local geography, history, and current eruption activity to volcano science and how the scientific method can be like detective work. The interviews with USGS scientists encouraged my fifth graders to think of how science works in the "real world" and the hands-on activities described in the book were fun for my second graders (though next time I'll be doing the "Soda Bottle Volcano" outdoors!). I find it to be just a great book for working with kids, for making them aware of the world in their backyard, and getting them excited about science.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF THE BEST, December 5, 2007

By 

Robert J. Schulz (CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Will It Blow?: Become a Volcano Detective at Mount St. Helens (Paperback)

FUN FILLED, EXCITING, AND INTERESTING. LEARN SCIENCE WHILE BEING A DETECTIVE. CREATIVE - ONE OF THE BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect addition to elementary school science class curriculums, October 6, 2007

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Will It Blow?: Become a Volcano Detective at Mount St. Helens (Paperback)

Nicely enhanced with the colored artistry of K.E. Lewis, "Will It Blow?: Become A Volcano Detective At Mount St. Helens" by Elizabeth Rusch is an ideal introduction to vulcanism from students age 6 and older. While its been more than 25 years since the last eruption of Mount St Helena, it is still emitting steam and pushing up a wall of lava. "Will It Blow?" will enable children to understand the inner workings of a volcano and learn that science is a lot like detective work and become able to put together the 'clues' to determine the answer to such questions as whether or not the visitors that flock to view the volcano from five miles away at Johnston Ridge are in danger; could airplanes and helicopters flying over Mount St. Helena be in danger from having volcanic ash clog their engines; could the houses and cabins in the valley below the volcano be swept away? As engaging and entertaining as it is informed and informative, "Will It Blow?" is a perfect addition to elementary school science class curriculums and highly recommended for use by home-schooling parents.