Earth’s Rocks and Fossils

Children's Literature - Nancy Garhan Attebury

A fantastic photo of tan, brown, and red sedimentary rock greets the eye on the cover of this book from the "Planet Earth" series. Four informative and well written chapters cover Earth as a rocky planet, tell how rocks are formed, give examples of rocks at work, and offer information about fossils. Catchy first paragraphs for each chapter draw readers into the pages that are formatted in short sections for easy reading. The text is written at a third-grade level but appeals to middle-grade students. Many photos are included and all help with ease of comprehension. Information about rocks, minerals, crystals, Earth's crust and its tectonic plates, weathering, the blasting of rocks and ores are some of the topics covered. Graphs and maps add interest to the text. Clear step-by-step project instructions are reader friendly. Projects include growing your own crystals, learning how ice breaks rock through an experiment, testing minerals, and making a fossil. Many fact bars present extra information. Science consultant Suzy Gazlay, M.A., has reviewed the material, which has been well researched. The excellent book can supplement class science curriculum and help meet science standards. Reviewer: Nancy Garhan Attebury