The Earth

Christy Conte is a member of the Parents Advisory Committee at the
YMCA’s Parent and Child Enrichment Centre and a journalist.

Through stories, experiments, facts, and projects, this basic primer
introduces children to the world of earth science. The questions it
poses are clear and simple (e.g., “What shape is the Earth?”; “Why
do we have night and day?”; “What is inside the Earth?”). The
answers are presented in one or two short paragraphs, and are usually
accompanied by diagrams and uncomplicated experiments.

Unlike many science books, The Earth does not confine itself to pure
science in its attempts to explain natural phenomenon. To explain the
movements of celestial bodies, for example, the author relates a Viking
myth involving trolls and wolves, as well as the notion of Earth’s
rotation around a tilted axis. Jules Verne’s Journey to the Centre of
the Earth is quoted as an early description of what was imagined to be
at the Earth’s core. In explaining how life came to exist on the
planet, the author relates both the Aboriginal “Raven” story and the
Chinese myth of Phan Ku (interestingly, the Judeo–Christian version is
omitted). In all cases, traditional scientific explanations are also
offered. Bill Slavin’s lighthearted drawings work well with the text.

Scientifically precocious children will find this book a little
simplistic. For most, The Earth will serve as a useful and provocative
introduction to astronomy, biology, and geology. Recommended.