Geology The study of rocks

Much like the other subsets, these volumes in the A True Book: Earth Science series are models of introducing a broad range of topics while still being concise and graphically pleasing to boot. Each book boasts a layout that never feels the least bit lazy and is kept fresh with sharp pictures, fun time lines, and breakout sections isolating the most dazzling of subtopics. Geology sounds rather dull until you remember our old friend the volcano. Ranging from the history of continental drift (colleagues thought scientist James Hutton had lost his mind with the theory) to recovery of space rocks, this is surprisingly invigorating material. A bright, appealing package perfect for writing reports or for following individual interests.--Kraus, Daniel Copyright 2010 Booklist

Gr 2-5-These books maintain the high standards of the established series. Each title encapsulates the field of science, the history leading to current theories and techniques, and the many specialties people pursue within each area. Even before the table of contents, readers are engaged in the topic with a challenge to determine the accuracy of two statements. The science is then introduced, often with questions and always with a focus on what scientists in the field are doing. A history chapter introduces key events and groundbreaking scientists and then reviews them in a time line. Midway through each title, "The Big Truth" section looks at a high-interest topic, such as "The Deep, Deep Sea" (Oceanography) and "The Facts Behind Mass Extinction" (Paleontology). An occasional focus page highlights a specific event or adds detail to a topic. Geology explains the differences between rocks and minerals, while Ecology looks at the cane toad problem in Australia. The final chapters look at ongoing work and challenges for the future. Each title concludes with a brief selection of kid-centric statistics and answers to the opening statements. Additional back matter includes references to strong print and online resources. Engaging writing, accurate science, and carefully selected and captioned photographs on each page make these titles invaluable.-Carol S. Surges, Longfellow Middle School, Wauwatosa, WI (c) Copyright 2012. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.