Earthdance: How Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Tidal Waves and Geysers Shake Our Restless Planet

Joan Buchanan is a writing instructor and storyteller, and the author of
Taking Care of My Cold! and The Nana Rescue.

Using a format akin to a comic book, Earthdance presents a great deal of
information about volcanoes, earthquakes, tidal waves, and geysers in a
palatable, humorously illustrated package. Nicholson has made a point of
including lots of user-friendly experiments for kids, from making your
own working volcano to cooking lava crunch candy and mimicking
tectonic-plate collisions. These hands-on activities follow or appear
right beside the factual explanations, encouraging a holistic approach
to learning.

The author often addresses readers directly and uses catchy
subheadings. Active language and a storytelling technique also engage
the reader, especially the reluctant science reader: for example,
“Imagine a volcano popping up in your backyard. ... One morning in
1943, Cresencio was tending his sheep while his father ploughed their
cornfield nearby. Suddenly, a bowl-shaped spot in the field started
grumbling. As Cresencio raced to tell his father, the bowl cracked open
and white smoke puffed out.”

The layout and illustrative style are lively, busy, and fun.
Photographs are incorporated, but the imaginative illustrations
dominate. A glossary, index, and answers to activity questions complete
the book. Highly recommended.