Review by Booklist Review
Attention rock hounds! Nonfiction stalwart Simon chips away at the mysteries of rock and mineral formation and identification in this entry-level guide. A full-page diagram of the Earth's layers kicks things off, and then Simon embarks on a tour of minerals, from the common (quartz, feldspar, calcite, etc.) to the rare (rubies, diamonds, and other gems), all with crystal-clear color photos and identifying captions. He then moves on to rock classification igneous, sedimentary, and so on and the geologic processes behind the formation of each. The final third of the book gets into the nitty-gritty of identification. Telling one mineral from another is something like guessing the villain in a mystery story. One clue may not be enough, Simon informs readers before laying out various clue-gathering methods, such as testing for luster, cleavage, fracture, color, and hardness. Lastly, he offers tips and tools for the new devotee, with a gentle reminder to be conservation-minded while collecting. A solid introduction designed to inspire, not overwhelm.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Addressing readers directly in engaging second-person narration, Simon examines a wide range of rocks and minerals, their properties, and how one goes about identifying them: "Telling one mineral from another is something like guessing the villain in a mystery story," he writes, leading into a discussion of the clues provided by color, luster, and the "streak" a mineral leaves behind when tested. Simon includes a substantial amount of detail while still keeping his explanations accessible ("when you touch a diamond at room temperature it feels cold because it conducts heat away from your fingers"). Plentiful photographs-of gem and mineral specimens, as well as larger natural landscapes-complement the main narrative, and closing tips about collecting and studying rocks offer a natural lead-in to post-reading activities. Ages 6-10. Agent: Wendy Schmalz, Wendy Schmalz Agency. (Aug.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 3-6-In standard Simon format, this book walks readers through the world of rocks and minerals. The author begins with an excellent description of the most common minerals found in nature and how to recognize them. The next section is a breakdown of the various types of rocks. Beautiful full-page photographs accompany the text throughout. The images are clearly labeled and correspond well to the material on each page-none feel out of place. The final section is a great introduction to rock collecting. Simon's enthusiasm for the subject might persuade readers to give this hobby a try. Connecting the text to the real world, the author encourages readers to use this volume, along with other resources, to identify the rocks they add to their collections. Strangely, there are no chapter headings, which could make finding information on specific topics difficult. However, the simple, uncluttered layout and gorgeous images give this title an edge over others. VERDICT A wonderful, browsable option for earth science collections.-Allison McLean, Elkhart -Public Library, IN © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
This photo-essay covers the basics of what minerals are, the most common mineral types, using physical properties to identify minerals, major rock types and how they are formed, and how to enjoy rocks and minerals through hobbies such as rock collecting. As usual with Simon's books, excellent photographs support the clear writing. Thumbnail images of common rocks and minerals are appended. Websites. Glos., ind. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
