Overview
Uncover the intriguing world beneath our feet
Rocks and Fossils reveal the state of the planet now and what the future may bring, including clues about the shifting, changing nature of the continents, mountain ranges, oceans, and islands.
Rocks and Fossils is a beautifully illustrated book that brings life to the seemingly timeless landscape. It explains geological concepts in relevant and familiar terms. Lively illustrations reveal a vast, hidden world via cross-sections and cutaways with explanatory captions.
The book explores the internal engine of our planet -- the liquid iron core unique among terrestrial planets, which is the catalyst for the creation and destruction of land, mountain, and oceans.
Rocks and Fossils is organized in six main sections:
- The Dynamic Earth: the ever-changing nature of the world
- Ancient Worlds: life from the Precambrian era to the age of humans
- Key Features: how rocks and fossils form
- Rocks and Fossils in the Landscape: where to find fossils
- Minerals: How they form and why some are precious
- Fossils: signs of life from single-cell organisms to dinosaurs.
Rocks and Fossils explains the fossil record to show how prehistoric lifeforms are linked to plants and animals still on Earth. Why did some species survive and others perish? What does the future hold?
Synopsis
An explanation of geological concepts in relevant and familiar terms and concepts featuring beautiful illustrations, cross-sections and cutaways.
Kim Zach - VOYA
In this fourth volume of a six-book series (other subjects include astronomy, the ocean, and weather), the emphasis is definitely on the visual. The panoramic photographs of stunning landscapes and close-up cross-sections of gems and fossils are so gorgeous that the volume could easily stand alone as an art book. The concise text provides additional information but does not detract from the impact of the pictures. In fact, after a casual perusal, a reader could come away with some basic knowledge just by studying the illustrations. The author, a globe-trotting geophysicist, geologist, and gemologist, says in the introduction that "the pages of Earth's history are written in its rocks, minerals, and fossils," and the book goes on to explore that concept in terms that all can understand. Organized into six sections, it includes highlights such as activity in the earth's core, ancient worlds, key features of rocks and fossils, and weathering and erosion. Serious science students will love the ending "factfile" that reads like a mini-scientific manual. It contains a detailed mineral properties table, a geological timescale, and a chart of fossil sites. Coenraads stresses that changes above and below the earth's surface will continue; the process will never be complete. This book offers solid evidence of the Earth's past and the link between our lives today and rocks, minerals, and fossils. These amazing remnants of life long ago can reveal our planet's secrets, if only we will pay attention. This book is an excellent place to begin. (A Visual Guide). VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P M J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8;Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2005, Firefly, 304p.; Glossary. Index. Illus. Photos. Maps. Charts. Chronology., Ages 11 to 18.
Editorials
The Science Teacher -
Engaging story of Earth's history... I have read many books of this genre, but this book's journey through time was the best yet.Rock and Gem -
Copious color photographs and excellent diagrams... A very useful volume for the rockhound and student of earth science.Booklist -
The predominantly pictorial treatment will undoubtedly lure newcomers... the graphical design is immediately appealing... explains what people on a rock-hunting field trip should look for, and opens their imaginations to the former environmental conditions that the discoveries of a fossil, rock, or mineral will conjure.Globe and Mail
A treat for browsers as well as a useful reference work and a fine introduction to the substances and materials we walk on.Bloomsbury Review -
Wonderfully intense color photographs of rocks, fossils, and landscapes... As a public school teacher I highly recommend Rocks and Fossils for any student and also for anyone interested in earth sciences. For the money it's like getting several books in one.Science Books and Films -
I can think of no other book about rocks and fossils in particular and geology in general that has more visual appeal than this 300-page volume from Robert Coenraads.INFOLINK -
Rocks & Fossils: A Visual Guide is exactly what the title says -- a visual guide. It has hundreds of color rich photos.... [and] is beautiful and extensive book that will be appreciated by the browser and helpful for student projects.... It also has a reasonable price.INFOLINK -
A truly beautiful book that deals with not only rocks and fossils but everything and anything that comes close to them. The formation of Planet Earth and the development of life on it; the origins of the various rocks and where they can be found; land-forms on Earth and how they got there; even gemstones and their properties, and the myths surrounding them... it's all in this lavishly illustrated volume. The only drawback to the book is the very tiny print in the extensive Factfile at the end, but that is offset by the truly gorgeous photos and detailed drawings that make this a joy to read. A coffee-table book that contains much information that is rarely found in one volume.VOYA
In this fourth volume of a six-book series (other subjects include astronomy, the ocean, and weather), the emphasis is definitely on the visual. The panoramic photographs of stunning landscapes and close-up cross-sections of gems and fossils are so gorgeous that the volume could easily stand alone as an art book. The concise text provides additional information but does not detract from the impact of the pictures. In fact, after a casual perusal, a reader could come away with some basic knowledge just by studying the illustrations. The author, a globe-trotting geophysicist, geologist, and gemologist, says in the introduction that "the pages of Earth's history are written in its rocks, minerals, and fossils," and the book goes on to explore that concept in terms that all can understand. Organized into six sections, it includes highlights such as activity in the earth's core, ancient worlds, key features of rocks and fossils, and weathering and erosion. Serious science students will love the ending "factfile" that reads like a mini-scientific manual. It contains a detailed mineral properties table, a geological timescale, and a chart of fossil sites. Coenraads stresses that changes above and below the earth's surface will continue; the process will never be complete. This book offers solid evidence of the Earth's past and the link between our lives today and rocks, minerals, and fossils. These amazing remnants of life long ago can reveal our planet's secrets, if only we will pay attention. This book is an excellent place to begin. (A Visual Guide). VOYA CODES: 4Q 4P M J S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8;Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2005, Firefly, 304p.; Glossary. Index. Illus. Photos. Maps. Charts. Chronology., Ages 11 to 18.—Kim Zach