From School Library Journal
Grade 3-4?A broad scope makes these introductions useful and appealing; each includes not only basic scientific observations, but also briefly told myths and legends and instructions for easy, homespun demonstrations?all illustrated with a combination of color photos and lively cartoons. To capsule accounts of The Moon's physical history and features, Bourgeois adds explanations of phases and tides, a summary of lunar landings, and legends from around the world. After a look at the past and future of The Sun, she discusses its visible and invisible emissions, seasons, the ozone layer, and the northern lights?the last accompanied by a particularly spectacular photo taken from space. Including instructions for a vinegar-and-baking-soda volcano, Nicolson describes the effects both of humans and of plate tectonics on The Earth, as well as our planet's origins. The interspersed activities include appropriate cautionary notes (especially in The Sun), and generally require no supplies beyond balls, string, and mirrors. One of the most intriguing needs no supplies at all; readers are invited to pick a night when the full moon looks huge, then to note the change in apparent size when viewed from between the legs. The spacious page layout, question-and-answer structure, and informal tone make these titles less intimidating to unpracticed readers than books like E. C. Krupp's The Moon and You (Macmillan, 1993) or the "Eyewitness Science" series (DK). Despite some overlap, they make inviting gateways to the study of matters astronomical.?John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Product Description
Discover how old Earth is and how it was formed. Find out what's inside Earth and how its crust is made up of pieces that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Read legends about why we have night and day and where the first living things came from. Kids can even make a volcano and discover why Earth looks blue from space. Part of the Starting with Space series, The Earth combines facts, folklore and hands-on activities to explain space exploration and scientific discoveries about the Earth.
