Classics, Nonfiction, and Children's Literature
The nonfiction picture book Volcanoes by Franklyn M. Branley (illustrated by Megan Lloyd; Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out book, Level 2; published 1985/reissued 2008) starts by telling the story of a few famous volcanoes, including Mount Tambora, Mount Vesuvius, and Mount Saint Helens. These very real stories immediately draw in the reader to the subject. Subsequent pages cover the
The uniquely illustrated picture book A Log’s Life by Wendy Pfeffer (illustrated by Robin Brickman; Simon & Schuster, 1997) shows the interconnectedness of ecosystems through the life of an oak tree. Three-dimensional collage illustrations bring the different creatures and textures to life in the illustrations. This picture book explains the cycle of decomposition with a
Seymour Simon’s nonfiction picture books have the bonus of being illustrated with full-color photographs. In his Coral Reefs (Harper Collins, 2013), the beauty of the coral reef is shown in the rich photos. Simon begins with a thorough discussion of various types of corals, along with images that show their distinct shapes and patterns. He
The text-heavy picture book The Island that Moved: How Shifting Forces Shape Our Earth by Meredith Hooper (illustrated by Lucia deLeiris; Viking, 2004) may be too wordy for a read-aloud, but it is an illustrated example of the changing geologic earth from era to era, thanks to the many forces at work on the tectonic
Follow the Moon Home: A Tale of One Idea, Twenty Kids, and a Hundred Sea Turtles by Phillippe Cousteau and Deborah Hopkinson (illustrated by Meilo So; Chronicle, 2016). Watercolor illustrations and friendly text with unique typography share the story of a child new to the area that spearheads a class project. The project, “Lights Out
Volcano: Where Fire and Water Meet by Mary M. Cerullo (Capstone, 2021; a Smithsonian book) features color photography from around the world to teach about volcanoes. The book focuses on Hawaiian island volcanoes, although it does talk about other types of volcanoes, other famous volcanoes, and how volcanoes change the face of the Earth. There
How Tectonic Plates Shaped Earth by Jane P. Gardner (Jump, 2020; Earth Shapers series) an on-level early reader nonfiction book that fantastically covers the basics of tectonic plates using early reader vocabulary. It includes captions and labels for photos, a glossary of unfamiliar words, “Did you Know?” sidebars, and a sample project at the end.
The attractive read-aloud picture book This is the Reef by Miriam Moss (illustrated by Adrienne Kennaway; Lincoln Children’s Books, 2007) repeats the phrase “This is the place” as it visits a variety of plants and animals in the coral reef habitat. A few unique and specific animals, such as nudibranchs (a mollusk) and fish-eating flowers,
The quirky picture book How to Dig a Hole to the Other Side of the World by Faith McNulty (illustrated by Marc Simont; Harper Collins, 1990). This quirky book shares the (obviously) fictional story of a child who succeeds in digging through the Earth. The sites he sees on the way down are helpful for
The nonfiction Keepers of the Reef by Dr. Sharon Wismer (illustrated by Alice Wong; Tillbury House, 2022) invites a young reader to visit the Great Barrier Reef to learn about a unique ecosystem. With a friendly “come on in!”, two children swim into a coral reef scene in this gorgeous book about the coral reef
With a child-friendly tone, Volcano Dreams: A Story of Yellowstone by Janet Fox (illustrated by Marlo Garnsworthy; Web of Life, 2018) introduces a variety of creatures that live in Yellowstone National Park, as well as personifies the geological features of the park, such as geysers and bubbling hot springs. The only one sleeping is the
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
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