Volcanoes and Earthquakes (Geo Detectives)

by Chris Oxlade and Anita Ganeri

Paulina Morgan (Illustrator) and Richard Hatwood (Editor)

Explore, create and investigate with Ava and George - the Geo Detectives! Use your detective skills to find out about volcanoes, earthquakes and other astounding natural events.

With the Geo Detectives series, join two young detectives, Ava and George, in a hands-on exploration of the natural world. Learn about exciting geography topics, then investigate further with fun activities and projects to do at home and outside.

What happens when a volcano erupts? Can we predict earthquakes? Where do most earthquakes occur in the world? Discover what amazing things happen in nature and use your own skills to find out why! Get answers about:

• Tectonic plates using a soggy biscuit
• How gas blows cinders out of a crater with popcorn, a plate, a cup and a straw
• Which materials are the best protection against heat using a chocolate bar
• How to measure quakes by making your own seismometer from everyday items
• Tsunamis by making your own model tsunami wave
• And much more!

Encouraging young readers to investigate geography topics and to have fun while learning, this book will amaze and astound any reader with an interest in science and nature.

• ISBN13: 9780711244610
• Publish Date: 17 September 2019
• Publish Status: Active
• Out of Print: 17 June 2021
• Publish Country: GB
• Imprint: White Lion Publishing
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 32
• Language: English

Reviews

[annieb123]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Geo Detectives: Volcanoes & Earthquakes is a new book aimed at younger readers in the Geo Detectives series. Released 17th Sep. 2019 by Quarto on their QEB imprint, it's 32 pages and available in hardback and paperback formats.

I've long been an advocate of STEAM education and books like this, which stimulate kids' natural interest in science and nature can be a fun and useful part of focusing that interest. Earth science is cool and this book provides an accessible and factual introduction to volcanoes and earthquakes along with other geo-science.

Each of the pages is full of colorful graphics with sidebars including some photographs along with explanatory text. There are short labs with exercises using safe and easily sourced materials to illustrate the theory. The DIY sections are short and do a good job of showing how fun and interesting science can be.

The geo detective narrators, Ava and George, are appealing and friendly. I liked the inclusiveness of having both girl and boy, as well as that Ava is a person of color. It's a subtle little bonus in a book that's scientifically and factually correct. The book includes a question quiz at the end as well as a glossary, links list for further reading, and some notes for resource people (primarily aimed at parents and teachers).

This would make a superlative school or home library book as well as a good support text for geo-science core units in a classroom setting.

Five stars, very well done.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes