1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Simon, Seymour. 2006. VOLCANOES. New York: Collins. ISBN 0060877170
2. PLOT SUMMARY
This photo essay book begins with an explanation of the legends and stories surrounding volcanoes from the early Romans who believed their god of fire, Vulcan, “worked at a hot forge, striking sparks as he made swords and armor for the other gods”, to the Hawaiian legend of Pele, the goddess of fire, who “although the islanders tried to please Pele, she burst forth every few years.”.
How volcanoes form (by “erupted material that piles up around the vent”) , famous volcanic eruptions (“the eruption of Mount St. Helens was the most destructive in the history of the United States”), and where and why volcanoes erupt (“Down the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, two plates are slowly moving apart”) are some of the topics covered in this book. The Hawaiian volcanoes are discussed as well as the two types of lava (aa and pahoehoe) and the four groups of volcanoes (shield, cinder cone, composite/stratovolcano and dome).
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Seymour Simon’s photo essay book contains photos of volcanoes and volcanic activity. Instead of picture captions, the text on each page emphasizes what the photograph is about such as on page 25 when the author explains that when the pahoehoe lava cools it “forms a smooth, billowy surface” and that surface is what the photograph shows. There is only one chart in the book, showing the plates of the Earth’s crust, but it is overshadowed by the dramatic pictures of lava, volcanic destruction, billowing smoke, and types of volcanoes. The photo credits are given on the same page as the author’s dedication to his sister. On the back cover of this paperback, there is a glossary of terms, an index with bolded page numbers being those in which illustrations are found, and a section featuring book selections and websites in order to “read more about it”.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal: “Simon presents information on volcanoes to young readers in an understandable text and colorful format….Further, it can be used successfully to generate interest on the part of those readers reluctant to pick up nonfiction books….The book is graced with many illuminating color photos that bring the text to life. However the illustration of the plates, or crust layers of the earth, is somewhat difficult to understand….This is a useful and attractive addition to science collections, as it is likely to become a favorite choice of young scientists.”
Book Review Digest:” The overview emphasizes geographical consequences and leaves the reader wanting to know more about the human losses and risks in the vicinity of active volcanoes. One very interesting scene features fire fighters spraying the encroaching lava during an eruption in Hawaii; but generally there is no real sense of the impact on humanity, making the boldly dramatic landscapes seem almost abstract….On the whole, however, the exceedingly handsome presentation is both appealing and compelling.”
Kirkus Reviews:”Simon may have done more than any other living author to help us understand and appreciate the beauty of our planet and our universe.”
5. CONNECTIONS
This book lends itself into a discussion about the layers of the Earth. Students may wish to do further research and explore more about volcanoes and their activities.
Books about Volcanoes
Burleigh, Robert, David Giraudon, and Phillipe Bourseiller. VOLCANOES: JOURNEY TO THE CRATERS EDGE ISBN 0810945908
Decker, Barbara. HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK: FIRE FROM BENEATH THE SEA. ISBN 1580710441
Editors of TIME FOR KIDS. TIME FOR KIDS: VOLCANOES! ISBN 006072234
Herman, Gail and Bob Ostrom. THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS BLOWS ITS TOP: A BOOK ABOUT VOLCANOES. ISBN 059050835
Websites about Volcanoes:
http://www.si.edu (Smithsonian Institution)
http://www.volcanoworld.org
Simon, Seymour. 2006. VOLCANOES. New York: Collins. ISBN 0060877170
2. PLOT SUMMARY
This photo essay book begins with an explanation of the legends and stories surrounding volcanoes from the early Romans who believed their god of fire, Vulcan, “worked at a hot forge, striking sparks as he made swords and armor for the other gods”, to the Hawaiian legend of Pele, the goddess of fire, who “although the islanders tried to please Pele, she burst forth every few years.”.
How volcanoes form (by “erupted material that piles up around the vent”) , famous volcanic eruptions (“the eruption of Mount St. Helens was the most destructive in the history of the United States”), and where and why volcanoes erupt (“Down the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, two plates are slowly moving apart”) are some of the topics covered in this book. The Hawaiian volcanoes are discussed as well as the two types of lava (aa and pahoehoe) and the four groups of volcanoes (shield, cinder cone, composite/stratovolcano and dome).
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Seymour Simon’s photo essay book contains photos of volcanoes and volcanic activity. Instead of picture captions, the text on each page emphasizes what the photograph is about such as on page 25 when the author explains that when the pahoehoe lava cools it “forms a smooth, billowy surface” and that surface is what the photograph shows. There is only one chart in the book, showing the plates of the Earth’s crust, but it is overshadowed by the dramatic pictures of lava, volcanic destruction, billowing smoke, and types of volcanoes. The photo credits are given on the same page as the author’s dedication to his sister. On the back cover of this paperback, there is a glossary of terms, an index with bolded page numbers being those in which illustrations are found, and a section featuring book selections and websites in order to “read more about it”.
4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal: “Simon presents information on volcanoes to young readers in an understandable text and colorful format….Further, it can be used successfully to generate interest on the part of those readers reluctant to pick up nonfiction books….The book is graced with many illuminating color photos that bring the text to life. However the illustration of the plates, or crust layers of the earth, is somewhat difficult to understand….This is a useful and attractive addition to science collections, as it is likely to become a favorite choice of young scientists.”
Book Review Digest:” The overview emphasizes geographical consequences and leaves the reader wanting to know more about the human losses and risks in the vicinity of active volcanoes. One very interesting scene features fire fighters spraying the encroaching lava during an eruption in Hawaii; but generally there is no real sense of the impact on humanity, making the boldly dramatic landscapes seem almost abstract….On the whole, however, the exceedingly handsome presentation is both appealing and compelling.”
Kirkus Reviews:”Simon may have done more than any other living author to help us understand and appreciate the beauty of our planet and our universe.”
5. CONNECTIONS
This book lends itself into a discussion about the layers of the Earth. Students may wish to do further research and explore more about volcanoes and their activities.
Books about Volcanoes
Burleigh, Robert, David Giraudon, and Phillipe Bourseiller. VOLCANOES: JOURNEY TO THE CRATERS EDGE ISBN 0810945908
Decker, Barbara. HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK: FIRE FROM BENEATH THE SEA. ISBN 1580710441
Editors of TIME FOR KIDS. TIME FOR KIDS: VOLCANOES! ISBN 006072234
Herman, Gail and Bob Ostrom. THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS BLOWS ITS TOP: A BOOK ABOUT VOLCANOES. ISBN 059050835
Websites about Volcanoes:
http://www.si.edu (Smithsonian Institution)
http://www.volcanoworld.org
This book could also be a start to an author study of Seymour Simon.
Website about Seymour Simon:
www.seymoursimon.com
Other books by Seymour Simon:
EARTHQUAKES. ISBN 060877154
HORSES. ISBN 0060289449
OCEANS. ISBN 0060889993
STORMS. ISBN 0688117082
WEATHER. ISBN 0060884398
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