The Dirt on Dirt

Dirt. It's in the air, under your bed, on the street and between your toes. Most of the time, you're trying to get rid of it. Does showering make you feel squeaky clean? Sure you are — for now. Read this book to find out why you just can't escape dirt — and why it's important for more reasons than you think. Earth, mud, grime, soil — whatever you call it, dirt is everywhere, even where you don't expect it. Did you know that without dirt there would be no rain? Or beautiful sunsets? The Dirt on Dirt covers not only what you think of as dirt, but also everything on and around the planet relating to dirt, from dirt homes big and small to secrets the dirt hides and much more. Youngsters will also find a bucketful of fun things to do with dirt, including how to build a bike racetrack, create fossil footprints and grow a garden playhouse.

Did you know that without dirt there would be no rain? Or beautiful sunsets? Read this book to find out why you just can’t escape dirt.

Children's Literature

AGERANGE: Ages 6 to 12.

Wow! Who knew there was so much to learn about dirt? If you thought dirt was just something you add water too in order to make a great mud pie, think again. The world is FULL of dirt, so follow along as you explore its different properties. On the "Contents" page, five categories are listed: "You and Dirt," "Dirt Matters," "Buried!" "Building with Dirt," and "Dirt for Gardening." These five categories are explored so in depth, you will learn something no matter what your age. From the typical knowledge of dirt as something that plants grow in, to learning about some of the amazing things that archaeologists have found buried underneath it, your mind will be covered in dirt from top to bottom before you are through. Photographs are accompanied by cartoon illustrations, making it kid-friendly and providing concrete knowledge. With tons of fun facts and instructions for science experiments (such as making fossils), readers are encouraged to participate in hands-on learning. Because dirt is involved in many aspects of science, the information and experiments in this book could be useful in preschool to elementary classrooms covering many different units, such as plants, animals, dirt, dinosaurs, or archaeology, just to name a few. The highly necessary glossary and index in the back help to keep the educational aspect of the text very user-friendly. You will learn more than you ever wanted to know about dirt by the time you are through. Reviewer: Carly Reagan

Paulette Bourgeois is the author of more than 40 books for children, including the In My Neighborhood series and Oma's Quilt. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.