Rocks & Minerals

June 26, 2017
Addressing readers directly in engaging second-person narration, Simon examines a wide range of rocks and minerals, their properties, and how one goes about identifying them: “Telling one mineral from another is something like guessing the villain in a mystery story,” he writes, leading into a discussion of the clues provided by color, luster, and the “streak” a mineral leaves behind when tested. Simon includes a substantial amount of detail while still keeping his explanations accessible (“when you touch a diamond at room temperature it feels cold because it conducts heat away from your fingers”). Plentiful photographs—of gem and mineral specimens, as well as larger natural landscapes—complement the main narrative, and closing tips about collecting and studying rocks offer a natural lead-in to post-reading activities. Ages 6–10. Agent: Wendy Schmalz, Wendy Schmalz Agency.

June 1, 2017

Gr 3-6-In standard Simon format, this book walks readers through the world of rocks and minerals. The author begins with an excellent description of the most common minerals found in nature and how to recognize them. The next section is a breakdown of the various types of rocks. Beautiful full-page photographs accompany the text throughout. The images are clearly labeled and correspond well to the material on each page-none feel out of place. The final section is a great introduction to rock collecting. Simon's enthusiasm for the subject might persuade readers to give this hobby a try. Connecting the text to the real world, the author encourages readers to use this volume, along with other resources, to identify the rocks they add to their collections. Strangely, there are no chapter headings, which could make finding information on specific topics difficult. However, the simple, uncluttered layout and gorgeous images give this title an edge over others. VERDICT A wonderful, browsable option for earth science collections.-Allison McLean, Elkhart Public Library, IN

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