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Synopsis
An in-depth look at Earth's waters and mankind's uses of water throughout history which includes ideas about planning better use of this critical resource in the future.
School Library Journal
Gr 5-7-Basic introductions to fundamental concepts of geological subjects. The books are logically organized, easy to read and follow, and reliably workmanlike in their presentation. Plates describes plate tectonics, the discovery of continental drift, the spreading of the sea floor, and the varying effects of the different kinds of plate collisions. Structure looks at volcanoes and earthquakes, the formation of the Earth and its continents, seismography, geomagnetism, mountain building, and glaciers. Water discusses a bit of chemistry, ocean currents, the origin of terrestrial water, human use and misuse of water, and the need for conservation. The latter two titles also address antiquated beliefs, frequently religious in nature, regarding their subjects. The color photos are often spectacular; they and the other graphics, which are sometimes dull, convey the necessary information. There are a few errors. A section on desalination claims that after processing, the remaining saltwater is free of salt, while continental plates are referred to as the North and South American poles. Inside the Earth (World Almanac, 2001) covers essentially the same information as Structure in a flashier format. Gallant's own Water (Benchmark, 2000) is an easier reading version of this Water. And Plates is comparable to Gallant's Dance of the Continents (Benchmark, 1999).-Jeffrey A. French, Euclid Public Library, OH Copyright 2003 Cahners Business Information.