The Science of Soil

Children's Literature - Joyce Rice

Soil is made of both living and nonliving materials. The nonliving materials, water, air and bits of rock make up over half of the bulk of soil. The remaining volume comes from a substance called humus. The tiny pieces of rock in soil were once parts of large rocks, or boulders. Nature breaks down these large rocks through rain, wind and ice, and the movement of rivers. The humus, or living part of the soil, comes from rotting plant life. The "Living Science" series contains six titles that offer an exploration of the world around us. Charts and diagrams help students to examine the world of soil. Hands-on activities are included throughout the text. An index, glossary, and listing of websites are included. The complete series would make an excellent classroom set.

School Library Journal

Gr 2-5-Lush color photographs grace every page of these books. The clear, easy-to-read texts have a bold header on every two-page spread to aid readability and a box containing a "Puzzler" (a question with the answer in inverted letters below) or an "Activity" (an experiment or research idea). In the first book, Bocknek introduces different kinds of plants, their life cycles, habitats, and products that come from them. It is a good complement to Gail Gibbons's From Seed to Plant (Holiday, 1991). In the second title, the author describes the different types of soil, animals that live in them, and nutrients they contain. It is similar in reading level but more detailed than Karen Bryant-Mole's Soil (RSVP, 1996). Parker briefly covers types of insects, their life cycles, and their habitats. Bright, appealing overviews.-Marilyn Long Graham, Lee County Library System, Estero, FL Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.