Coal

Marie St. Onge-Davidson is president of the Essential English Centre in
Ottawa.

This well-researched and informative new series from Crabtree Publishing
reveals the riches that are found deep inside the Earth. Each volume
explains how its subject material was formed, the history of its use,
how it is used today, where it is found, how it is located and
extracted, and the problems associated with it. The information is
presented in 14 two-page chapters. Each chapter focuses on a specific
topic, using simple prose in large print, colourful photos, detailed
diagrams, and maps that keep pace with and complement the text. Boldface
words in the text are further defined in a glossary at the back.

Readers will learn about black lung disease, strip mining,
supertankers, global warming, the curse of the Hope Diamond, how the
human body uses salt, how oil is refined, the importance of minerals in
the Bronze and Iron Ages, how a gem is cut, solar salt, and how mining
gold damages the environment, among many other things.

The volumes can be read for pleasure or used in school projects and
should be considered important additions to elementary school, public,
and home libraries. All of the books are highly recommended.