The nonfiction picture book Planet Earth Inside Out by Gail Gibbons (published 1995) provides a great overview of the planet. It covers a large range of subtopics, including the layers of the earth, the tectonic plates and Pangea, how plates interact, the results of earthquakes on land, and details about volcanoes, including seafloor spreading. It then gives details on how mountains are formed, and it briefly touches on how the tilt of the Earth affects the seasons and that the different parts of the world have different climates.
Planet Earth/Inside Out has a wide reach for students studying the earth. Further, it is written in the highly approachable style that I’ve found to be Gibbons’ trademark for picture books. Her bright and clear illustrations and diagram wonderfully supplement the text. The book presents facts without talking down to the young reader.
