What Shapes the Land?

Children's Literature - Marilyn Courtot

A full-page illustration shows the earth sliced in half. The crust is the layer that we live on, under it is the mantle and below that the magma, red-hot melted rock. Rocks are everywhere. They are made up of a few minerals, but the combinations are what give rocks their shape, color and texture. What shapes the land—volcanoes, glaciers, wind, water—are some of the forces that make or change the shape of the land. Volcanoes create land and the tops of underwater volcanoes become islands. Erosion and weathering change the shape of the land by causing rocks and soil to move. Mountains can wear down to hills, and cliffs can break away and become small rocks. Some of the most beautiful sights on earth can be found in places where wind and water have created interesting if not bizarre landforms such as thin towers of rocks, arches, and pillars that are actually the remains of an arch. Kalman discusses the nature of soil, the composition of glaciers, and what humans can do to help preserve the land. In addition to the text, this book includes quizzes interspersed to test learning and introduce a bit of fun. (Answers are provided.) Includes a brief, one-page glossary entitled "Words-to-Know" and an index. Part of the "Looking at Earth" series. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot