Be a Volcanologist

Children's Literature - Mary Bowman-Kruhm

Like the other books in the "Scienceworks!" series, this book mimics web pages with two-page spreads for each chapter and four succinctly worded text boxes in each of the four corners. The text boxes are: Introduction to the topic of the two pages, Factfile with basic information, Workstation with additional information, including diagrams, charts and similar visuals, and Challenge Questions. These areas superimposed on a photograph of the page's topic create a busyness that may overwhelm some students, despite the clarity of font and the uncomplicated, effective drawings to explain concepts (e.g., differentiating among the five most common types of eruptions). The challenge questions are excellent, call on students to use higher order thinking skills, and would easily fit into a cooperative learning activity. The narrative, addressed to you, pulls the reader into the sequence of events that begins with anticipating an eruption and moves through to the aftermath of an eruption, with people saved by "your" advance warnings to flowers eventually growing in volcanic ash. Backmatter includes Tips for Science Success, Answers to Questions, and glossary. The series supports the National Science Education Standards, K-4. Reviewer: Mary Bowman-Kruhm, Ph.D.