8.4
Dear Katie, The Volcano Is a Girl
Earthquake at Dawn
Hill of Fire
How To Dig A Hole to the Other Side of
the World
Magic Dogs of the Volcanoes
The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth
Paperquake
Pauls Volcano
Quake! A Novel
Richter 10
The Volcano Disaster
Volcano: The Eruption and Healing of
Mount St. Helens
8.4
by Peter Hernon
G.P. Putnams Sons, New York, NY
(1999; 480 pp.)
Grades 6Adult
A young adult thriller/survival story about the New Madrid Fault
Zone in the Mississippi Valley. After two major quakes devastate
the area, seismologists John Atkins and Elizabeth Holleran work
together to try to prevent more damage from "The Big One."
The story is filled with facts about geology, tectonics, and physics.
Dear Katie, The Volcano Is a Girl
by Jean Craighead George;
illustrated by Daniel Powers
Hyperion Books for Children, New York, NY
(1998; 32 pp.)
Grades 15
When Katie and her grandmother visit the Kilauea volcano in
Hawaii, they argue over whether the volcano is a geophysical phenomenon
or an angry Hawaiian goddess. Grandmother describes the scientific
principles behind volcanic eruptions while Katie tells the Hawaii
mythology of the goddess Pele and her role in creating the islands
and the volcano. In the end they realize theyre both right.
While intended for a younger audience, this book can be useful
for its insight into explanations cultures create to explain natural
events.
Earthquake at Dawn
by Kristiana Gregory
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, San Diego, CA
(1992; 192 pp.)
Grades 59
A fictionalized account of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake
based on a letter written by earthquake survivor Mary Exa Atkins
Campbell and pictures taken by Edith Irvine. The story is told
through fifteen-year-old Daisy, a fictitious traveling companion
to Edith, as they watch the drama unfold from a boat in the bay.
Hill of Fire
by Thomas P. Lewis;
illustrated by Joan Sandin
HarperCollins, New York, NY
(1971; 63 pp.)
Grades 25
A Mexican villager plowing a field opened up a crack in the
Earth that erupted within days into a new volcano, Paricutin.
The power of the volcano and the impact of change are strongly
conveyed. The actual 1943 event is described in a historical note.
This was only the second time in recorded history that the birth
of a volcano has been directly witnessed by humans. While told
in simple language, the story is still appropriate for older students.
How To Dig A Hole to the Other Side
of the World
by Faith McNulty;
illustrated by Marc Simont
HarperCollins, New York, NY
(1990; 32 pp.)
Grades K8
A child takes an imaginary 8,000-mile journey through the
Earth and discovers whats inside. As he passes through the
Earths crust, then the mantle, and into the core, the book
describes the structure of the Earth, the heat energy stored in
the center of the Earth, and how far the boy has come and how
far he has to go. The reader gains information about the composition
of each layer, connections to magma and geysers, and an awesome
appreciation of the size of the Earth.
Magic Dogs of the Volcanoes
by Manlio Argueta;
illustrated by Elly Simmons;
English translation by Stacey Ross
Childrens Book Press, San Francisco, CA
(1990; 31 pp.)
Grades 14
When the traditional magic dogs who live on top of ancient
volcanoes and protect the people of El Salvador are pursued by
lead soldiers, the volcanoes play a trick. The male volcano fans
himself with his steam hat, making the Earth hot. The female volcano
shakes her dress made of water and makes the soldiers wet so they
sizzle and melt. This is an imaginative, multicultural extension
to the activities in Plate Tectonics.
The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth
by Joanna Cole;
illustrated by Bruce Degen
Scholastic, New York, NY
(1987; 56 pp.)
Grades K6
On a special field trip to the center of the Earth, Ms. Frizzles
class learns firsthand about different kinds of rocks and the
formation of the Earth and its structure. Although intended for
a young audience, reading this book would be a good way for students
to learn more about the different geological layers and forces
at work inside the Earth. Also useful is The Magic School Bus
on the Ocean Floor (1992) for its mention of hot water
vents deep under the ocean.
Paperquake
by Kathryn Reiss
Harcourt Brace, San Diego, CA
(1998; 264 pp.)
Grades 58
In this interesting blend of mystery and time travel, eighth-grader
Violet, a triplet, feels very different from her sisters. In their
Victorian home, Violet discovers old letters and a diary from
the time of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. The letters and
diary entries, though obviously written in the past, seem to refer
to her and incidents in her life. She gradually concludes that
she is being sent mysterious messages from the past about how
to prevent a tragedy in the future. By closing the gap in the
space-time continuum, Violet cleverly prevents disaster just as
the Earths plates shift to close its gaps.
Pauls Volcano
by Beatrice Gormley;
illustrated by Cat Bowman Smith
Houghton Mifflin, Boston, MA
(1987; 143 pp.)
Grades 58
When Adam and Robbie see Pauls science fair project,
a model of a volcano (complete with smoke and eruption sound track),
they decide that it must become the symbol of their new club.
The "Vulcans" conduct rituals with the model volcano,
chanting their password "Magma, Magma" as they prepare
to march in the July 4th parade. But mysterious, dangerous forces
seem to be at work. What begins as a playful imitation of legends
about people sacrificed to volcanoes turns into a series of unexplained
and bizarre events, fear, and a final conflagration. Qualities
of leadership and the meaning of accomplishment are explored as
the strange events surge like lava down a mountainside. There
is some scientific information throughout, including a description
of the eruption of Mount St. Helens. In the end, the spirit of
friendship triumphs over the evil genie of the volcano.
Quake! A Novel
by Joe Cottonwood
Scholastic, New York, NY
(1995; 146 pp.)
Grades 58
With their parents away at the 1989 World Series in San Francisco,
fourteen-year-old Franny, her younger brother, and Frannys
friend Jennie try to cope with the frightening events following
an earthquake that destroys their home on Loma Prieta mountain.
In the aftermath of the quake, Franny and Jennie prove to be heroes
as they help their neighbors. The book emphasizes earthquake preparedness.
Richter 10
by Arthur C. Clarke and Mike McQuay
Bantam Books, New York, NY
(1996; 384 pp.)
Grades 5Adult
Set in the near future, this is the story of Lewis Crane,
a brilliant seismologist who has developed a unique theory of
quake prediction. He predicts a large earthquake in the Mississippi
Valley, but miscalculates the event. He must then convince a skeptical
public that an even larger magnitude quake (a Richter 10) is due
within months. Crane eventually wants to prevent all earthquakes
by fusing the Earths tectonic plates. An action packed,
science fiction thriller full of plot twists and complete with
seismic geology.
The Volcano Disaster
by Peg Kehret
Pocket Books, New York, NY
(1998; 135 pp.)
Grades 37
After discovering his grandfathers inventionthe
Instant Commutertwelve-year-old Warren is accidentally transported
back in time to Mount St. Helens just moments before its eruption
in 1980. A friend Betsy follows him and the two are caught in
the thick ash, frightening lightning, and earthquakes that accompany
the eruption. The book provides detailed descriptions of what
it would be like to be in the middle of the eruption as well as
facts about volcanoes.
Volcano: The Eruption and Healing
of Mount St. Helens
by Patricia Lauber
Bradbury Press, New York, NY
(1986; 60 pp.)
Grades 47
Photographic account of how and why Mount St. Helens erupted
in May 1980 and the destruction it caused. Two chapters discuss
the survivors and colonizers, and the plant and animal life that
returned to the area. In Chapter 5 dormant volcanoes and their
mechanics are explained with a positive look at the creative effects
of an eruption. Chapter 5 also includes a good basic introduction
to the key topic of plate tectonics.
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