Earth under construction

Landslides and mudslides are some of the most dangerous forces in nature. In seconds, these roaring rivers of earth and rocks can uproot trees, flip cars, and destroy whole neighborhoods.

Everything is connected on Earth, even if we can't see it right away. Biogeology is the study of the important and sometimes weird relationships between living things and the Earth itself. Young readers might know how beavers dam rivers to make ponds, but they probably don't know about the hungry bacteria that eat rocks to make sparkly minerals like pyrite.

Earth's landscape is constantly changing, but some geological events have more explosive effects than others. This daring book introduces readers to the power of volcanoes, one of nature's most mesmerizing and disruptive features. Readers will discover how volcanoes form and why they erupt so dramatically. They'll learn about the most infamous volcanoes that have shaped Earth, from Mount Vesuvius's destruction of Pompeii in 79 CE to the disastrous 1980 eruption of Mount Saint Helens.

Earthquakes are among the heaviest hitters in the world of natural phenomena that shape our planet. Not only can they cause massive amounts of damage on their own, they can also cause other disasters, such as tsunamis and avalanches.

Weathering and erosion have helped shaped many of Earth's most famous landforms, from the Grand Canyon to the Cliffs of Moher. Readers will get an in-depth look at how these fascinating processes are able to transform the surfaces of the world. Eye-catching photographs and stimulating sidebars help readers develop a deeper understanding of the informative narrative. Explanatory graphic organizers reinforce key concepts and support important aspects of elementary science curricula, including the Next Generation Science Standards.