Book Description

KEY MESSAGE: Life on Earth, Fifth Edition, introduces readers to biology through real-world applications and expanded human-interest case studies that run throughout each chapter. From the authors of the highly successful Biology: Life on Earth, Eighth Edition, Life on Earth, Fifth Edition, provides the most extensive environmental and ecology coverage of any text on the market, with an Earth Watch feature box that appears throughout the text, and, new to this edition, a chapter covering conservation biology—Chapter 31: Conserving Life on Earth.

An Introduction to Life on Earth, Atoms, Molecules, and Life, Cell Membrane Structure and Function, Cell Structure and Function, Energy Flow in the Life of a Cell, Capturing Solar Energy: Photosynthesis, Harvesting Energy: Glycolysis and Cellular Respiration, The Continuity of Life: How Cells Reproduce, Patterns of Inheritance, DNA: The Molecule of Heredity, Gene Expression and Regulation, Biotechnology,Principles of Evolution, How Populations Evolve, The History of Life on Earth, The Diversity of Life,Plant Form and Function, The Plant Life Cycle, Homeostasis and the Organization of the Animal Body, Circulation and Respiration, Nutrition, Digestion, and Excretion, Defenses against Disease, Chemical Control of the Animal Body: The Endocrine System, The Nervous System and the Senses. Animal Reproduction and Development, Animal Behavior, Population Growth, Community Interactions, How Do Ecosystems Work?, Earth’s Diverse Ecosystems, Conserving Life on Earth

For all readers interested in biology.

Customer Reviews (4)

Great intro book!
This book is for those wanting an easy reading introduction.Its very informative, well put together and easy to follow with adequate graphics.(I hated the questions at the end of each chapter though, ok lets face it they were easy you just had to really think about them).
I wouldn't recommend for a biology buff but definitely all others!

HARD TO FOLLOW
I just finished my biology class with this text book.Over all I was very disappointed in this book.I read each chapter that was assigned to us by the professor and worked my study guides but still came out of the each chapter more confused.With the jargon they put in this text book it doesn't do the student any favors in the layouts you will need to spend time to investigate some of the information on your own to obtain a better understanding of BIOLOGY.

An easy-to-read book that still avoids over-simplification
Although Life on Earth is meant to be a textbook, I find it to be an excellent reference book.The design does not force the reader to begin at the first chapter and read sequentially.Terms are explained in clearenglish, and the glossary is very thorough.Illustrations are well-drawnand fitting, and the layout is easy on the eyes.Also, the chapter summaryafter each section is invaulable to students.I cannot recommend this bookmore to anyone who is interested in Biology or needs a reference book aboutthe workings of life on Earth.

easy to understand
This book was easy to follow.Unlike a a lot of other books, it does not throw a bunch of terms you dont understand at you. ... Read more

Book Description
Irreverent and entertaining, DOWN TO EARTH is filled with fact about global warming and its disastrous consequences, loads of photos and illustrations, as well as suggestions for how kids can help combat global warming in their homes, schools, and communities. Engagingly designed, DOWN TO EARTH will educate and empower, leaving readers with the knowledge they need to understand this problem and a sense of hope to inspire them into action. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

inconveniate truth
This is a truely great chalenging and inspiring film. Al Gore and this film deserve all the awards and Nobel Prize they earned.

Insightful and very kid friendly
This was a very well written and illustrated book that is not only easy to go through with my kids but very thought provoking for all of us. It is really nice to see something so well done that was targeted to the audience that will be left with the bag if we don't step in and do something and quick....It maked us all realise we ALL need to be a part of the solution.

Don't let the facts get in the way!
This book directly competes with "The Sky is Not Falling".The best thing to do is to read both books and make decisions on your own.

The point is (few people dispute it), the earth is warming.There are conflicting opinions on why.This book presents the "mainstream" belief that is rightfully under attack. The integrity of the data does not stand up to presenting solid "proof" that human generated CO2 is causing global warming.The planet is warming and CO2 has increased.We know one is driving the other based on the 650,000 year chart.The real chart tells us that CO2 rises after temperature rises.Even in the face of this recognized fact the alarmists believe the debate is over.

The point of this entire debate is what we do about Global Warming.If you believe that we are causing the rise in temperature, then you must believe in the rules set forth in the Kyoto treaty.Most people don't have any idea what the Kyoto treaty is, what it will force us to do, what impact it will have on the economy and that only the "wealthy" countries have to act on the treaty.If you believe we are impacting the climate, read what you can about the treaty and ask yourself if you are ready and willing to sacrifice your job and your future ability to support your family as the cascading effects of regulation destroy the world economy.If you believe, therefore, we all must act, you are destroying your child's economic future.

If you are of the mind that the earth is warming because of a natural cycle and that there is nothing we can do about it, that should not mean that we need to live an unnecessarily gluttonous lifestyle.Teaching our children to recycle, to turn off lights, to utilize more efficient energy sources is responsible and does not have any negative impact.

The problem with the arguments right now is that they are polarizing.You either "love the planet" or you "hate the planet".I can love the planet, yet believe that we are going through a natural cycle that we will have to adjust to.I'm not willing to destroy our economy or my children's ability to support their families under the premise that some scientists using questionable data tell me the world will end.I do believe that we are wasteful and that there are responsible things we can do to reduce.I will teach my children how to conserve and be responsible while telling them the facts of this debate.

Let's begin to question what is going on in reality.The people who are preaching to us, Al Gore, Hollywood and others are not impacted by any negative economic events that will fall upon us with the realities of the Kyoto treaty.Al Gore uses 20 times the electricity of the average household and flies on private jets.The hollywood elite lead their extravagant lifestyles while preaching to us to conserve.Being wasteful and then purchasing Carbon Credits (from companies he is invested in) is about the most hypocritical thing a person can do.That is Al Gore.

Did you know that the countries who have signed onto the Kyoto treaty are being paid cash for planting trees?In order to find land to plant trees on, they are clear cutting old forests and replanting to get the money.

Politicians always have good intentions.What they are not good about is understanding the economics of the unintended consequences of their actions.The point made above is a perfect example of this.

Be a good citizen of this earth.Read all sides of this and all issues.Make an unemotional conclusion, understanding all of the impacts of that conclusion and ACT.Don't be lazy and follow the mainstream and let yourself be sucked along without knowing the facts or the possible outcomes. The mainstream accepted the "facts" of Iraq and we now have a bad result in Iraq.We are heading down a similar path with the global warming debate.

The mainstream is eliminating debate.That is unacceptable.

Great so far!
I haven't gotten through the whole book yet, but I have sat down with my 4-year-old son and read some. It's written very well to make it easy to understand what Global Warming is all about. Since my son is only 4, I easily skipped over some of the bigger words and still got the points across. I will be ordering more for Christmas gifts.

Global Warming
This is a fascinating and easily understood explanation of global warming. Concrete examples will enable children to understand the phenomenon of Global Warming: a popsicle stays frozen at 32 degrees F but falls off the stick at 33 degrees F. Just a one degree difference in earth's average temperature is already causing major changes in climate patterns. Photographs, cartoon illustrations, graphs are eye-catching: there is a picture of an abandoned house on stilts that is now rests at the edge of the ocean because twelve feet of this North Carolina beach are lost each year. Participatory activities like a "connect the dots" and a "match the quote" game. This book also suggests many easy things that kids can do to save energy like unplug the chargers used for cell phones because they use valuable energy even when there is not a phone recharging. Extensive back material includes: a glossary, index, source notes and a list of current material, both books and web sites for further exploration. Every library should have multiple copies.




... Read more

Book Description
As irascible scholar Professor Lidenbrock pores over a rare Icelandic tome, he discovers a scrap of parchment with cryptic writing tucked away between the ancient pages. And when his nephew, Axel, finally breaks the writing’s secret code, he learns of a hidden underground passageway that may lead deep into the center of the earth.

Despite Axel’s misgivings, he and the obsessed Lidenbrock travel to Iceland and, with a guide named Hans, set out on a perilous expedition in the course of which the trio will encounter an extraordinary new world of extinct yet living species, an underground sea, and gigantic, battling monsters.

Filled with the authentic detail and startling immediacy Jules Verne labored to bring to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in Eighty Days, Journey to the Center of the Earth is the fantastic adventure that secured Verne’s reputation as the premier writer of speculative fiction.Download Description
The manuscript volume and the smaller document are written in different hands, he said, "the cryptograph is of much later date than the book; there is an undoubted proof of the correctness of my surmise. An irrefragable proof I took it to be. The first letter is a double M, which was only added to the Icelandic language in the twelfth century. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (123)

Brilliant read if you can leave your knowledge behind
It had been many years since I had read a Jules Verne novel, and to be honest, I couldn't recall his skill as a writer at all.When I dug this book off of my bookshelf I admit, I was simply bored and looking for something mindless to read while the children fought over gluing cotton balls to construction paper.

I admit that it took my mind a while to re-acclimate to the writing style of the time, not that it was difficult to read, it was just far too easy to skim.So, bringing my mind to a screeching halt, I sat down and began to truly read this wonderful novel.Let me begin with saying that the science in the novel is extremely outdated but at the time of it's writing, was plausible.If you can get your mind past the huge hurtle of your current scientific knowledge, you can appreciate this book for what it is: a brilliant science fiction/adventure novel.The conventions of the time include misunderstandings of the makeup of the earth, and the propensity to marry one's own cousins.

The book is written in the form of a diary at times, and a retelling at times, of events that had passed previously.The voice of the book is the character Harry, nephew and assistant to Professor Von Hardwigg.The novel begins with the professor's discovery of a secret parchment which when decoded gives the location that a previous explorer used to enter the bowels of the earth.The immediately set out to follow in the footsteps of this great explorer of centuries before.Joining them is Hans, the apparent superman of Iceland.He never complains, rarely talks, and saves the lives of those around him on a regular basis.I cannot help but to believe that this is Verne's ideal man, his "Adonis" if you will.The Professor, though he loves Harry, is a closet ADHD case hidden behind a brilliant and stubborn mind.There is great adoration for his nephew, on those occasions when he stops moving or talking long enough to notice him.Harry, who is telling the story, is easily written off as a coward; however he is so much more than that if you take into account the beliefs of the time.He is following his uncle on a dangerous journey into the unknown to a place he does not even believe exists.(Harry's beliefs are far closer to the reality that we understand, however in this novel they are all completely incorrect)

Upon entering the depths of the earth many hardships and terrors await the three, ranging from dehydration, starvation, dinosaurs, many falls, getting separated, raging storms on underground seas and volcanic eruptions.I won't go into great detail suffice to say that the movie, though highly entertaining, does no justice to this story.Spray painted iguanas with horns are far from what is described in this book.If you have spare time on you hands, this is an excellent read and I would highly recommend it to anyone.There is a reason that this is considered "Literature."

4 of 5 stars.

Verne fails to reach his potential in this one
This book starts off strong with the Verne's classic style and wit.The initial pages are entertaining, fast-paced and set the premise for a potentially wonderful novel.However, the story quickly slows down as preparations for the trip take entirely too long.In the version I read, the actual journey doesn't begin until page 90.Then, once the journey begins, it is rather uneventful.Verne also puts in too much geological information for the average reader to appreciate.It becomes quite tedious reading about the content of various mineral deposits, composition of the substrata of the earth, etc.While some such material is interesting, Verne goes over the top.This novel fails to display the extent of Verne's talents.For a better taste of his writings, I would recommend "Around the World in 80 Days" or, if you can digest a much longer work, "The Mysterious Island."

A fine Jules Verne read.
Journey To the Center of the Earth was always one of my favorite movies and after all these years, I finally read the book.The book is not like the movie at all.Honestly, I liked the movie better however that is not to say I was in any way disappointed with the book.It moved along quickly and drew me in such that I couldn't put it down and so read it in one sitting.A geologist, his eager young nephew and an Icelandic guide make their way to the earth's core following the footsteps of a previous mysterious explorer into the dark subterranean world of weird plants, animals, rocks and unforeseen dangers. There was no woman with them as in the movie but a female companion might have spiced it up a bit.The Icelander didn't have a pet duck along as in the movie but he was an indispensible partner in the venture.All in all, it was adventurous and fun and worth my time.I enjoyed it very much. Sure glad I finally read the book!
Betsy

Another Wonderful Adventure by Jules Verne
Note: Some immature Mormon has been slamming my reviews because I wrote some negative reviews of books attempting to defend the Book of Mormon.

So your "helpful" votes are greatly appreciated. A short review is not necessarily a bad review if it leads you to a great novel. I've just noted the general theme. Thanks

A group of adventures with an old map travel to Iceland and find a cave.They enter the cave and follow a path to the center of the earth, where they find an inner world of strange creatures. Just suspend your belief, and sit back an enjoy this wonderful tale. I experience it first as a movie way back in 1960. Later, I read the novel. Don't miss it.

The concept of a hollow earth was not new in Jules Verne's day (mid-1800s). Its most prominent advocate was Capt. John Cleave Symmes, who advanced the theory in about 1818. Symmes was so convincing that in the 1820s he got twenty-five members of the United States Congress to vote to fund an expedition to the North Pole, where they would enter the center of the earth through a 4,000-mile-wide cavity in the earth.

It was then believed that the Lost Tribes of Israel lived on the North Pole behind a wall of ice. This theory found its way into the revelations of Joseph Smith, who in the Book of Mormon and later, said that the Lost Tribes would break down the ice and return from the "north countries."

Also, check out "At the Earth's Core," by Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Land of Terror (Bison Frontiers of Imagination)

Maybe it was the translation...
The version of the Jules Verne classic I read was the very old English translation that transmogrifies the protagonist into Harry Lawson, I guess to appeal to English readers.

The idea is good, and the science very convincingly conveyed...but I was underwhelmed with the action, or lack thereof. Pages upon pages are devoted to the prosaic trek to the Icelandic volcano which serves as the ingress to the abyss, and, once inside, pages upon pages are devoted to the mundane exploration of rocky tunnels. ("Look at that magnificent feldspar, Uncle!")

The protagonist gets lost (and found), the water supply runs out, and sundry other non-exciting events occur. I wanted more ichthyosaur vs. plesiosaur-type happenings...which alas, were barely represented.

The treatment of Saknussemm defies credibility, and the fact that the main characters survived being erupted out of Mt. Etna beggars belief. I'll grant a lot of latitude when the premise is such an interesting and promising one. But don't pee on my leg and tell me it's raining.

I wanted to enjoy the book more, but couldn't. Maybe it was the translation...I'd like to think so. ... Read more

Book Description
Completely revised and updated, The New Earth from Above: 365 Days has all-new photographs and text, including twelve essays on conservation and other global environmental issues by noted experts and activists. Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s powerful aerial photographs reveal the incidental beauty of the Earth and its inhabitants, while the authoritative text explores current issues of sustainable development affecting the world: global warming, poverty, and biodiversity among them. The images offer a breathtaking vision of out diverse planet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Most Important "Coffee Table" Book You'll Ever Own
This book is more than just a collection of breathtaking aerial shots of the global community in which we live -- it's an informative and often damning look at the world that we have created, and how our lives make it what it is. The book does not pull any punches, and often as we gaze at the sheer beauty (both man-made and natural) of this planet, we are slapped in the face with the facts of life. It's a picture book that seems to be telling us, "Yes, a picture is worth a thousand words, but here are a few that you may not have noticed."


Don't just buy this book for yourself, buy it for every person that may come into your home, pick it up, and look at just a few pages. You will help each of them understand the complexities and dilemmas of our modern lives.

Earth From Above
I still haven't read it all, as there's 365 days, but what I have seen I am impressed with.It's not just the pictures but the background information that accompanies itIt's like a mini history/geography lesson, but fun!

Political overtones
Many of the pictures were nice.A little disappointed in the choice of some of the pictures that were used.The written narration is very environment, global warming, & politically biased.I purchased several as a coffee table gift idea.I won't buy any more of this particular book unless I am certain the person I'm giving it to has liberal values. ... Read more

Book Description
This landmark work, first published by Sierra Club Books in 1988, has established itself as a foundational volume in the ecological canon. In it, noted cultural historian Thomas Berry provides nothing less than a new intellectual-ethical framework for the human community by positing planetary well-being as the measure of all human activity.
Drawing on the wisdom of Western philosophy, Asian thought, and Native American traditions, as well as contemporary physics and evolutionary biology, Berry offers a new perspective that recasts our understanding of science, technology, politics, religion, ecology, and education. He shows us why it is important for us to respond to the Earth's need for planetary renewal, and what we must do to break free of the "technological trance" that drives a misguided dream of progress. Only then, he suggests, can we foster mutually enhancing human-Earth relationships that can heal our traumatized global biosystem. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Powerful and Compelling!
The Dream of the Earth is a classic on environmental philosophy. It may perhaps be the most important environmental book ever written outside of Rachal Carson's Silent Spring. Berry tells us what went wrong and what needs to be done to reverse the dysfunction. A must read for anyone who loves our Earth Mother.

Healing the Earth
Our planet, Gaia, is sorely in need of healing. Her earth, waters, and air are polluted. Natural resources are being depleted. Thousands of plant and animal species are becoming extinct.

In this classic book, Thomas Berry summarizes and discusses the dire needs of our planet for healing. While not going so far as to advocate spiritual healing as a solution, Berry strongly advocates for awareness of the innate intelligence of Gaia.

Berry masterfully explores the mind-sets that have contributed to the dangerous depletion of our planetary resources. He suggests that we have yet to find the guiding myths and images to inspire us to relinquish our focus on personal and national material gains in order to properly focus our energies on relating to Gaia in a harmonious way.

The annotated bibliography invites focused further reading.

AFine Guide To Earth/Universe Connectivity
Thomas Berry has put together in this one book what a thousand other writers have attempted and that is: a complete format for human perception of reality that should and can pervade through all our earthly activities, esp. religion, politics and economy. Let Earth and it's biolgical processes teach and guide us to a rational, sustainable, regenerative, healthy existence.

There are many potent passages all through this work and I picked out one that I felt was inclusive of the gist of the book.

..."This universe itself, but especially the planet Earth, needs to be experienced as the primary healer, primary commercial establishment, and primary lawgiver for all that exists within this life community. The basic spirituality communicated by the natural world can also be considered as normative for the future ecological age."- Page 120

This is an excellent treatise on reverence for the creative life forces that sustain us and treat us daily to a plethora of interactive life processes and our need to acknowledge this gift by treating it with the awe and respect it deserves.

A Global Story, A Saving Story
In one of his Dialogues, Plato says that the most serious difficulty one faces when attempting to philosophize is in "finding a suitable story for what one wants to say."But it's a difficulty worth facing at this time in history because a suitable story may serve to energize and advance current efforts to develop a globally responsible spirituality.

Everywhere we hear from perceptive folk that our conventional story has grown dangerously obsolete, and only by reimagining the world and our place in it can we advance beyond the dysfunctional limits of the old story.

The "dream of the earth" so beautifully described in this work by "geologian" Thomas Berry just may be the "big enough story" needed now to creatively navigate the global transition from a way of destruction to a way of sustainable wisdom rooted in a respect for the earth as respect for our very own bodies

New Age Religion in the Guise of Christianity
Don't be misled.Because Thomas Berry is promoted as a Catholic priest, many people are falsely led to believe that his books present Catholic or Christian teaching about the environment.Instead, this book presents a New Age blend of do-it-yourself religion mixed with pseudo-science.If you're into that, you'll probably like this book... ... Read more

Book Description
"The heroine’s transformation into someone who finds her own style and speaks her own mind is believable — and worthy of applause." — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Fifteen-year-old Virginia Shreves has a larger-than-average body and a plus-size inferiority complex, especially when she compares herself to her slim, brilliant, picture-perfect family. But that’s before a shocking phone call — and a horrifying allegation — about her rugby-star brother changes everything. With irreverent humor and surprising gravity, Carolyn Mackler creates an endearingly blunt heroine who speaks to every teen who struggles with family expectations, and proves that the most impressive achievement is to be true to yourself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (103)

Yes
I read this book a while ago and I remember it with a passion. It was one of the first books I read when I got into reading. I HIGHLY recommended this book. I LOVE this book. Its so special and the author puts things in a way that you can fell that being your brother, and your family. I will also say the ending is get. I have to say that was one of the best ending ever.

The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things Pulls Off a Well-Rounded Story
The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things, written by Carolyn Mackler, is a book that will not only appeal to people who are different from what the "normal or perfect" image of what a person should be but to anyone who has ever felt like they don't belong.Not only does it show you that it is okay to be different but it also shows how you can be your own person away from your family and/or friends.It is an inspirational story that could very easily be a true story for someone in the world even though it is fiction.No matter what you look like or what you feel you can easily connect with one of the many diverse characters in this story.Whether it is the main character Virginia Shreves, her brother Byron, Froggy Welsh the Fourth, or any of the other vastly different characters.All in all this is an excellent book.
The story starts with you finding out about Virginia's life and everything that has been taking place in it recently.However, the plot quickly moves away from something that sounds like a journal into a well thought out novel.The conflict is quickly presented and the rest of the story keeps up the pace through the rest of the book.You see Virginia in many different stages of accepting herself and not thinking that the rest of her family is perfect.From "everything would be better if I would just disappear" to "I can't/won't believe my brother did that" and then ending in a happiness that she finds in herself.The story line pulls you in from the first sentence at the beginning of the book and keeps you glued to every page until the very last period of the book.
Overall I thought this book was extremely interesting and well written. It had a good balance of what Virginia is thinking and what others are saying about her or about her family.Mackler made the character, Virginia, likable and just made her seem like a real person with real problems.Anyone who reads this book will most likely have different idea about what ideal and perfect means after they finish the book.I definitely recommend this book to every person who has ever felt like they don't belong or feels inferior to others.

Positive w/o being Preachy
I read this book in one sitting and vacilatted between laughing out loud and wanting to put my fist in the air in support of the protagonist. The humor displayed in the pages was sharp and at times scathingly honest. I loved this book and will definitely read more by CM.

I think she was spot on the pulse of teenagehood and dealt with heavy issues such as body image, eathing disorders, puberty, date rape, feminism, family dysfunction without wagging her fingers at the reader. This book was definitely superior to _Gossip Girl_.

The audience for this book is primarily a lay audience, but I could see the books being used in humanities courses.

Book Review
I thought this book was very good. I felt bad for the main character. If I was treated like she was I would rebel like she did. I would mainly recommend this book towards girls. It is a girly book that deals with a lot of girl problems. If you like the coming of age genres then you'll love this book!

Not a Self-Help Guide, But Still Super Inspirational
I just finished this book, and I couldn't put it down. It is not an action-thriller or crime story. Instead, it's a realistic story told from a to-the-point perspective. Virginia Shreves is "not FAT fat. Just chubby fat." Her family is full of perfect brunettes (and skinny ones, FYI), so she's always been the oddball. But that's what you have to love about her. She's so real.

I could completely relate to this story, because I had problems with weight, too. Reading the dieting tips Virginia came up with made me laugh and think. The book is basically about a girl who is heavier than your average teen, and who has a hard time fitting in with her own family.

I never read anything by Carolyn Mackler before, except for a story in a magazine, but after reading The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big Round Things, I'm looking forward to picking up another book by her. Reading about Virginia's struggles to find some confidence made me realize that "fat" is not a bad thing. As long as you are healthy (and not making yourself vomit in a toilet) and happy with yourself, it's all good. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Have genius, will measure!
It is amazing how the union of art and words can produce a book so full of wonders. How to count them? How to describe them? Perhaps the bibliography is the place to begin. The writer Kathryn Lasky consulted nine sources for the information incorporated into the story of Eratosthenes; Kevin Hawkes, the illustrator, used sixteen.

Each double-page spread of illustration displays the artist's extensive knowledge of all things Greek and Cyrenian (Greek city on the coast of Africa in what is now Libya, where Eratosthenes grew up). Textile patterns, Greek urn art, linens, palm trees, brick work, plant life, housing, clothing styles, educational settings, musical instruments, mathematical counting methods, colors, architecture, landscaping. These are just a few items from the first few pages. The artwork is truly magnificent, yet part of the story as information. His intense and deep bright colors match the intensity of North Africa.

Lasky also pours information into the story, revealing pretty much what it was like in Eratosthenes' day. As for Eratosthenes, Lasky notes in the introduction that not much is known about his life, but much is known of the Greek world, its people, and its culture. All Lasky had to do was place an intensely curious child into the Greek setting to lay the background for the development of this genius.

As a librarian, I was most impressed with the library in Alexandria and how it was run. Being named head librarian was a real turning point for Eratosthenes, as the library put at his disposal all the information he needed for solving a long-time problem that occupied his mind: How big around is the Earth? Finally, using methods over my head, Eratosthenes determined the earth's circumference at 24,662 miles, just two hundred miles off the correct figure. Solving this problem also meant concluding his book, Geographica, the first geography book of the world.

Measuring the earth is but one aspect of Erathosthenes' life. As a student in Athens, he was nicknamed Pentathlos because he was good in so many areas of knowledge. Eventually, he became tutor to Ptolemy III's son.

This is one of those very special books for children that presents not onlya story of an admirable person, but also the absolute beauty found only in the art tools of the most talented illustrator. Lasky and Hawkes have created a must-have book for libraries, both school and home!

One of the most treasured books in my library!
"The Librarian Who Measured the Earth" by Kathryn Lasky

This book is one of my most treasured possessions.It is a children's book,but it does contain the mathematics and geometry by which Eratosthenes measured the circumference of the earth to within 2% of the accurate measurement accepted by modern scientists.Eratosthenes did this in the 3rd Century B.C.E.when he was the head librarian in Alexandria, Egypt,ruled by the Ptolemaic kings. [The Ptolemaic Kings were the Hellenic successors to Alexander the Great's empire,after his death].

The book is in a large format, and the color illustrations are lovely, and they enhance the text.The author,Kathryn Lasky has done an excellent job of assimilatingvast amounts of technical and historical data and reducing it to form that is appreciated by those without deep grasp of geometry and mathematics.I've looked into some of the geometry which Eratosthenesdrew upon to make his determinations and it can be very technical.

It may be that some learned peoplewere well acquainted with the proof of Eratosthenes and that this knowledge was possessed by Christopher Columubs,even as he was pleading withmonarchs Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain,during the very period when their courtiers were developing "Mad Queen Chess"which is the game we play today.

One of the fun things to do,particularly to enhance the learning experience,is to copy the data from this book and enlarge upon it.That Eratosthenes was able to do this fascinates me to no end.

great illustrations but munged math
My nine year old can see that in order for the sun to shine straight down every hole on earth, the earth would have to curve around the outside of the sun. Ms. Lasky "simplifies" the math to the point that it is unintelligible. It might take a page or two more, but if you're going to attempt to explain the mathematics behind the measurement, do it right or not at all.

We Need More Books Like This!
I'd just like to repeat what the other middle school reviewers are saying about this book--namely that it works with kids.Beautifully illustrated, concise, great for a multi-disciplinary lesson.It covers history in an engaging way and makes students think.I wish publishers would get more books to us history teachers like this one.Teachers who liked this might want to check out Joy Hakim's new science "textbook" which covers early science and math.Every time I look at it I like it more.

Great job combining math, history, science & geography!
This is a picture book format biography of Eratosthenes, who lived in Ancient Greece, focusing on how he calculated the size of the Earth using a mathematical formula and measurements taken by measuring shadows and length of footsteps from one location to another. Eratostehenes had many roles and talents, one being that he was a mathematician and author of books on several topics. He wrote the first geography book, which included the first map of the world and the first documentation of the size of the Earth.

The publisher says this is for ages 4-8 however the math concept of the formula he used to determine the size of the Earth was too complex for my 6 year old to grasp. The text is long-ish compared to a typical picture book as well, so I think this can extend a little beyond 8 yrs. if it is acting as a brief biography. I am not sure how many chapter book format biographies are out there for kids 9 and up on Eratosthenes, so this may be better than nothing for older kids!

The colorful pictures are nice and really compliment the text, especially when showing how he thought about measuring the Earth and comparing it to a grapefruit. It also addresses the idea of asking questions, curiosity, and making guesses at answers about things in the world that they did not yet know about.

This is a combination of history, math, and geography with a little scientific thought thrown in. It laid out his first questions and theories and how he came up with different ideas to come up with a way to measure a part of the land. We learn about what worked and what failed, leading up to how he finally came to a method that he thought was accurate, and why he thought this formula would work. His computation was about 200 miles off of the distance we measured in this century!

Within the story we learn about what schools were like for boys in Ancient Greece, that books were in scroll format, what libraries were like (and that they were rare) and other tidbits.

There is a bibliography included that can be used for further reading resources as well. This book is also a great example of how one book can cross over several subject areas: math, history, science and geography. ... Read more

Book Description

300 stunning before-and-after photographs that show the staggering transformation of our world.

Earth Then and Now records the dramatic way our planet has changed over the past century. On one page is a specific part of the world as it was 5, 20, 50 or even 100 years ago. On the facing page is the same place as it looks today. Each stark visual comparison tells a compelling story -- a melting glacier, an expanding desert, an encroaching cityscape, a natural disaster.

Earth Then and Now reminds us that nothing is without a cost. Highly topical and thought provoking chapters in this book include:

• Environmental change: Bearing witness to the effects of global warming
• Industrialization: Revealing the hidden costs of "progress"
• Urbanization: Showing the effects of our spreading cities
• Natural disasters: Reminding us of the power of nature
• War: Using comparisons to show the impact of armed conflict
• Travel and tourism: Illustrating the predatory nature of development.

Concise captions explain the facts and then allow the reader to draw personal conclusions. Anyone concerned about the environment will enjoy and appreciate Earth Then and Now.

Customer Reviews (3)

Spectacular views of Earth
While looking through the new books at the library, this one caught my eye. It wasn't that it was large, but rather the premise: looking at the Earth, the cities, rivers, glaciers, at different moments in time. In many of the photographs, they take the same picture, separated by centuries, decades, years, or minutes.

Contents:
Map Contents
Foreword
Introduction
Environmental Change
Urbanization
Land Transformation
Forces of Nature
War and Conflict
Leisure and Culture
Index and Acknowledgements

The basis of the book, Earth Then and Now: Amazing Images of Our Changing World by Fred Pearce, is set in the Foreword (written by Zac Goldsmith) as a showcase for climate change. The first chapter, Environmental Change, shows hard evidence that we are changing our environment. The pictures of glaciers, ice shelves in Antarctica, the Rhine River, and the Aral Sea are staggering (the latter is a direct result of man - an eco-disaster on par with the Dust Bowl). Once you have reviewed the pictures and the text of that chapter, Pearce brings more change to your attention, urban sprawl, deforestation, strip mining. The results of earthquakes, volcanic activity, hurricanes and tsunamis. The detestation of World War I and II and Vietnam. Finally, beaches in the heart of Paris, resorts at the top of the world, and more.

The photographs are stunning and the text is sobering. By taking photographs and placing them on facing pages, separated by time, the result is an amazing "before and after" affect. The results, as shown in the photos, cannot be disputed. Not only are you shown retreating glaciers, but the effects of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest and the United States. Not satisfied with simple photographs, Pearce also bring satellite imagery into play. Thought provoking.

If those stories and photos were not enough, you have to witness the chapter on War and Conflict. Man against man. And yet, we seem to have reclaimed some of the worst effects of war to create some beautiful areas of remembrance and reconstruction. The photos of Dresden, Germany and Caen, Normandy, France are wonderful. The rebuilding of Mostar Bridge in Bosnia (originally built in 1705) is especially touching.

This is an amazing book. It should reach you on almost any level, between the spectacular photos or the text that accompanies the shots, you may not look at the Earth or your environment in the same way. "Thought provoking" is a good phrase and it is definitely worthy of your time.

Browsers will love this one....
Fred Pearce in his Earth: Then and Now manages to capture the attention of anyone that picks this book up.Wonderfully done, the book compares current photos to historic photos of the same scene from various places around the globe.

Organized into 6 units or chapters ( Environmental Change, Urbanization, Land Transformation, Forces of Nature, War and Conflict, and Leisure and Culture) the images demonstrate how man can change his enviroment whether in a town or around a lake.Perhaps the most striking comparison are the images on page 30 of the Upsala Glacier in Patagonia.Having said that, there are other stunning images throughout the book.The most touching of the chapters in my opinion is the unit dealing with War and Conflict.

At 288 pages, Earth Then and Now will be a book you want to return to again and again.This would make a wonderful gift.

Disturbing yet totally captivating
I work at a library, and as I was covering this book, I just had to look inside. I'm a fan of satellite images of the Earth to begin with, so naturally my interest in this book was piqued. I only opened to a random page to take a peek, but I ended up completly hypnotized by the images and the concise captions. I literally could not put this book down. This book has an amazing magnetism to it; it draws you in and takes you for a ride around the world.

Unfortunatley, a majority of the photos and explanations reveal the horrid and destructive ways of man altering the Earth and choking the environment. If anyone is in doubt that the Earth is being ravaged, this book will make clear to anyone of any age just how abusive we are of the planet. The section on glaciers is seriously scary. The images are just unbelievable, but sadly, they show the truth.

From aerial shots of New Orleans before and after Katrina to satellite images of the recent growth of Las Vegas, this book explores not just the United States, but the world as well. Mountains after avalanches, volcanos after explosions, land after flood and drought, page after page you are assaulted with powerful imagery.

Mostly focusing on the effects of climate change and deforestation, Earth Then and Now shows the "progress" that modern man has acheived on this noble planet.

I reccomend that everyone on planet Earth read this book. It is a shocking eye-opener, and just simply unbelievable. A perfect coffee table book or addition to any library, you will not be dissapointed in Earth Then and Now.

I just hope they printed it on recycled paper... ... Read more

Book Description
As England descends into civil war, John Tradescant the Younger, gardener to King Charles I, finds his loyalties in question, his status an ever-growing danger to his family. Fearing royal defeat and determined to avoid serving the rebels, John escapes to the royalist colony of Virginia, a land bursting with fertility that stirs his passion for botany. Only the native American peoples understand the forest, and John is drawn to their way of life just as they come into fatal conflict with the colonial settlers. Torn between his loyalty to his country and family and his love for a Powhatan girl who embodies the freedom he seeks, John has to find himself before he is prepared to choose his direction in the virgin land.In this enthralling, freestanding sequel to Earthly Joys, Gregory combines a wealth of gardening knowledge with a haunting love story that spans two continents and two cultures, making Virgin Earth a tour de force of revolutionary politics and passionate characters.Download Description
"As England descends into civil war, John Tradescant the Younger, gardener to King Charles I, finds his loyalties in question, his status an ever-growing danger to his family. Fearing royal defeat and determined to avoid serving the rebels, John escapes to the royalist colony of Virginia, a land bursting with fertility that stirs his passion for botany. Only the native American peoples understand the forest, and John is drawn to their way of life just as they come into fatal conflict with the colonial settlers. Torn between his loyalty to his country and family and his love for a Powhatan girl who embodies the freedom he seeks, John has to find himself before he is prepared to choose his direction in the virgin land.In this enthralling, freestanding sequel to Earthly Joys, Gregory combines a wealth of gardening knowledge with a haunting love story that spans two continents and two cultures, making Virgin Earth a tour de force of revolutionary politics and passionate characters. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

A Worthy Sequel
Being an avid gardener, I have enjoyed both of the Tradescant books.Living in Virginia, not too far from Jamestown, and being well-acquainted with colonial history, I found the descriptions of the New World and its inhabitants quite interesting.And being a British history buff, I loved the insights into Charles I, his queen, and the English Civil War.

That said, I understand how some readers could tire of the main character J and his seemingly selfish attitudes, but he lived in a quite different time and place from us.Though I did not always agree with his decisions, they were not far-fetched, and when one reads historical fiction, one must remember that the characters did not live in contemporary America.To his credit, the character does develop and mature over the course of the story as he tries to find his place in the world.

I have read most of Ms. Gregory's books now, and while THE BOLEYN INHERITANCE remains my favorite, VIRGIN EARTH is quite a good read.

For those who find the ending unsatisfying, I can only say that it is historically accurate and, I hope, leaves the story open for a future sequel.

Disappointing for Gregory fans
I plowed through the Tudor series and loved every minute of it.I've since read the Wideacre trilogy and the Virgin Earth trying to get more of the Philippa Gregory magic.Blech.All 4 books are predictable with flat, largely unsympathetic characters.I'm not sure why these two series seem fascinated with a forbidden sex angle: incest in the case of the Wideacre trilogy and compulsive (lusetful but loveless) sex between men in Virgin Earth.Save your money.

Follow-on
I read this because I read the first book and wanted to find out what happened. Overall I thought this book was not as good as "Earthly Joys." I realize that it's fiction, but the story was sufficiently far-fetched that I thought it was too fictional.

"Virgin Earth"
This book is very long and at times tedious. Gregory has vivid descriptions of EVERYthing. Her characters were good. We reviewed this in book club and after discussion, I found out I remembered and enjoyed more than I realized!

Annoying Main Character
I usually love Philippa Gregory's books.But this one, for me, was lacking.The main character was frankly annoying--from the beginning of the book to its VERY disappointing ending. I agree with another poster who had a hard time understand how three intelligent women could love this guy. The reason I gave it two stars (instead of one or none) was because the book did have its moments. The time spent in early Virgina and the look into the lives of King Charles I and the story behind the English civil war were interesting. I just wish the story could have been told from another main character's perspective. ... Read more

Book Description

• This interesting guide covers all aspects of Google Earth, the freely downloadable application from Google that allows users to view satellite images from all points of the globe
• Aimed at a diverse audience, including casual users who enjoy air shots of locales as well as geographers, real estate professionals, and GPS developers
• Includes valuable tips on various customizations that users can add, advice on setting up scavenger hunts, and guidance on using Google Earth to benefit a business
• Explains modifying general options, managing the layer and placemark systems, and tackling some of the more technical aspects, such as interfacing with GPS
• There are more than 400,000 registered users of Google Earth and the number is still growing

Customer Reviews (2)

Great Book for Beginners and as a Reference
I had a lot of questions about the nuances of Google Earth, which is why I purchased this book. The Google Earth tutorials are nice, but only go so far in explaining how to use it. "Google Earth for Dummies" goes a long way for explaining the application, how it works, it's nuances, and how to use it for maximum benefit.

As with many of my "for Dummies" books it is a great reference manual that is well organized, well thought out, and well researched that makes finding answers to questions a snap. I use it when trying to decide how to do animations for presentations and how to most effectively illustrate points that need to be made through placement of different elements either from the 3D library or custom 3D items from Google SketchUp (there is even a short tutorial on how to use Google SketchUp).

In short it covers all the bases, is very informative, is intuitive and well aid out, and it functions as a great reference. Mr. Crowder deserves a "well done" for his efforts, and a "Thank You". It is well worth it's price and the time to learn what's in it.

Two Tech Books for One Earth Price
This book is a well written introduction to Google Earth. The fact that it doubles as a wonderful introduction to Google Sketchup means you're getting two outstanding technical primers for the price of one.

As a Google Earth fan from its beta days, I thought a dummies book wouldn't give me enough information to warrant the price of the book, particularly given the abundance of tutorial materials freely available online. This book, while valuable to its base of novice users, offers enough for an intermediate user to justify a thorough reading. For example, while beginners will appreciate the information about geographical terms such as defining latitude and longitude and familiarizing themselves with GPS jargon, other users may find the more comprehensive knowledge about the program's KML file structure and the explanations about the various layers in Google Earth more worth their reading time.

Now again, the addition of the materials on Google Sketchup, a 3D modeling program more likely once intended for CAD and landscape enthusiasts, means that even more accomplished users can use this as a tool to explore Google Earth's more advanced features. I myself had only cursory knowledge of Sketchup before reading this book and was sold on it when I saw how quickly I could get started with 3D modeling and put it to immediate use on Google Earth. Had this book not included the Sketchup section, I would probably have relied on web sites to fill me in on GE's other features. By reading the chapters on Sketchup, I was able to download the program with the confidence that I could begin using the program quickly. I even showed the program to several of my advanced fifth graders who themselves were playing with the program in no time at all.

As a consequence of reading this book, I am a much more capable member of the Google Earth community but I can also now boast some knowledge of 3D modeling. That's not too bad for an Earth dummy. ... Read more

Book Description
The fifth novel in Asimov's popular Foundation series opens with second thoughts. Councilman Golan Trevize is wondering if he was right to choose a collective mind as the best possible future for humanity over the anarchy of contentious individuals, nations and planets. To test his conclusion, he decides he must know the past and goes in search of legendary Earth, all references to which have been erased from galactic libraries. The societies encountered along the way become arguing points in a book-long colloquy about man's fate, conducted by Trevize and traveling companion Bliss, who is part of the first world/mind, Gaia. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (82)

asimov is a genius.
Anyone who hasn't read about Hari Seldon and Psychohistory needs to. Though it's a fictional science in the book, I wouldn't be suprised if someone wasn't studying it today. Asimov's writing is compelling ... not to full of sci-fi babble and that makes it pretty timeless. Many older books have language that makes me laugh and constantly irritates me.

Yuck.Worst of the Foundation series
I was disappointed in this book, which is chronologically the last of the Foundation series.

The characters act out of character.You have your heroes and your heroine, and in the first half of the book, they're very righteous, debating about morality, and act strongly with conviction. But in the second half of the book, a small event happens and then you get a bunch of whiny wimpy characters.It was really annoying, and if it was anyone but Asimov, a reader would say that he inserted this small event just to build up to another sequel.

He could have removed this event and it wouldn't have changed the overall theme of the book.This book just left a bad taste in my mouth -- I was exasperated that our so-called heroes whom we initially rooted for and loved became so stupid.

I love this book!
I can't believe people would comment negatively about this book as it is a work of art!Have some creativity, vision and pure imagination in your lives.

Another major work by Isaac Asimov
This book by Isaac Asimov is fascinating in two ways--first, it is the last of the Foundation series; second, it is another link between two of the greatest series in science fiction, the Foundation series and the Robot series.As always with Asimov, there are the irritating things--his characters get talky, plot sometimes breaks down, and there is a certain discursive quality to his writing that does not always serve movement of the story well.However, by this point in his career, Asimov was capable at developing characters (and it shows here) and had otherwise grown greatly as an author. And, as ever, he was capable of developing big picture, galaxy-wide concepts that challenge the reader to think about things in a new way.

The work begins with Golan Trevize having already made his fateful decision to impel the galaxy to move toward a major superorganism to be called Galaxia, with its model the planet-wide Gaia superorganism.In that, he turned his back on the vision of either the Foundation or the Second Foundation being the model, with Hari Seldon's vision being transcended by another.In that sense, this really is not a Foundation novel (maybe an anti-Foundation work?).

However, he is troubled about his decision and wants to understand better his decision, be sure that it is the right one.So, he begins what might be called an Odyssey, along with his friend Pelorat and his friend, Bliss, a part of Gaia.That sets up an almost Socratic dialogue among the three as they move from planet to plant, trying to find answers--including the location of the mythical home planet of humanity, Earth. The discussions sometimes slow the forward movement of the novel, but they do elaborate the various views of where humanity and the galaxy ought to go.

After revisiting some places that will be familiar to readers of the Robot series, the trio finally arrives on Earth, by then a dead planet.And they meet an old friend of every Asimov fan in a way that produces an upbeat ending and a resolution as to where humanity will go, with that character promising to be a guiding hand, working behind the scenes, to help produce that future.

Least Favorite of the Foundation Series
For anyone interested in the Foundation series, I felt that this was the least interesting of the series. It was said later by the author that he was trying to end the series so that no one would ask for more sequels, but i still felt oddly left out in the dark. ... Read more

Book Description
The classic story of a Norwegian pioneer family's struggles with the land and the elements of the Dakota Territory as they try to make a new life in America. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

Powerful characters, beautifully written
Like Moberg's novels of the Swedish emmigrant experience in Minnesota, Rolvaag's earlier Saga of the Prairie tells of the Norwegian frontier settlers in Dakota Territory. Rolvaag's prose is richly evocative of the solitude and loneliness of the wide prairie expanses and the savage elements of winter blizzards and summer locust plagues. His characters are deep and complex, and the whole story reads like a literary soap opera almost impossible to put down. A great achivement, highly recommended.

From a once South Dakota Farm Girl ...
I enjoyed this book very much and I thought it was an excellent literary work.I really wanted to give it five stars, but I could not for one reason.I felt the women in this book really were quite weak of mind.I found myself wondering - was this an accurate portrayal or a bad stereotype or just a story line for this particular story?Maybe it was a good representation of the particular culture at that time; I don't know.

I grew up in South Dakota farm country where the women and men are equal in strength of mind, character and judgement.Some are weak; some are strong.At least that is my opinion.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone and especially those interested in history and humankind's connection to nature and the earth.

The true story of homesteading the prairie
There are better-known stories of the homesteading experience, such as Willa Cather's "My Antonia" and Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House" series, but none of them hit as close to the truth as did O.E. Rolvaag in "Giants in the Earth."

It is translated into something of an epic style, somewhat like James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking series, but its subject matter almost demands such a style. Because it tells an epic story, of Per's struggles against the prairie, the harsh weather, and against the burden of his well-meaning wife, who lacks Per's inner resources to thrive, despite the forbidding conditions.

But of all the homesteading fiction, "Giants in the Earth" is the closest to the truth of any I have read, in capturing the beauty and violence of the prairie, and the sincere, honest, hard-working beauty of the pioneers who tamed it. Because the truth isn't the pretty pastels of the Little House books. The prairie homesteader had a bleak, harsh, spartan existence, especially before the sod was broken and the trees were planted. There are substantiated accounts of homesteaders and their young families dying out here--starving in the winters if the food carried over from the fall ran out, or freezing to death in blizzards when the snow covered the sodhouses and the fuel was used up. Waves of diphtheria, tuberculosis and influenza killed still more, sending the remnants of the broken families back East. (But when the truth isn't pretty, it is usually covered up.)

So in my opinion, this is a story about greatness, and how even the most apparently humble men can become truly great--daring and achieving things that should be impossible. And as in Per's story, the reward doesn't always recompense the labor when one attempts to wrest a living from the prairie; even 140 years later, many prairie towns still teeter on the brink of existence. It's a struggle that continues today, and there are still men like Per out here, who won't give in, no matter what is thrown at them. Rolvaag had it right; they are giants.

As for me, I'm a Johnny-come-lately, only a South Dakotan for 27 years. But I would not want to live anywhere else.

Intriguing look at my ancestors' experiences
I found this book quite by accident, looking for information about Norway. My great-grandparents immigrated to eastern South Dakota from Norway in 1870. After reading the reviews on Amazon, I decided I couldn't wait for it to be shipped and found it in a local bookstore.

Wow. What a range of emotions to be felt during the reading of this book.At times, I put it down for days, thinking Per Hansa was a fool and wasn't going to get out of a situation alive.I was surprised at the lack of serious consequesnces for making foolish decisions, such as removing the landmarks of other men's land claims.I wasn't there 100 years ago, but a land dispute should have been taken up in court, not in hand-to-hand combat. (Although it's true that I felt sick about the possibility of all the work of building a home and breaking ground going to waste.)I just cannot imagine that the resolution would have really happened that way (trying to avoid a spoiler!)

At other times, I laughed out loud at Per Hansa's response to a situation... "the first furrow was crooked as a snake..." I can just feel the man thinking that thought.

I guess my one main complaint about the book is all the time spent building up to these cataclysmic events (Irish settlers, Indian visitors, ailing Hans Olsa, etc.) and then to resolve the issue with a half page ending. Someone else wrote about laughing at the very end; I cried bitterly. I was not expecting the book to end the way it did.

That said, this is an amazing look into the lives of my ancestors.I will be rereading this book and am eagerly awaiting Peder Victorius.

AWESOME
It's was an amazing start to one of the best journey's I've ever read. I feel honored to have been given it as a gift, an orignial copy, from my mother. I felt more honored to give her the other two books in the series as a gift, she had never known about. It's a series you curl up with on a winter's day that calls for a warm blanket and a serious lack of anything to do but travel back in time. ... Read more

Book Description

Earth Day is on the way, and Ryan, Luke, and Carly have a plan. If they manage to collect and recycle 5,000 aluminum cans, they can make enough money to buy some beautiful flowers for nearby Gilroy Park.

Customer Reviews (1)

The kids LOVE it
My kids LOVE this book even though they are younger than the recommended age. Easy to follow story goes well with the math. Teaches how even kids can help clean up the earth. The kids ask for it to be read over and over again! ... Read more

Book Description
Rock collecting has never been quite like this! When the class forgets to do its homework, a fieldtrip through the Earth's crust, into the center of the Earth, and out through a volcano will teach them not to forget their assignments again - and then some! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Rocks, Rocks, Everywhere!
"The Magic School Bus: Inside the Earth" immediately picks up where its predecessor, "At the Waterworks", left off.At the end of each book, Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen provide a subtle clue as to the nature and content of their next collaboration - a sly wink to those of us who catch such details.

"At the Waterworks" concludes with Ms. Frizzle looking at a map of a volcano, which tells us the next book in the series will probably be about our world's physical structures.And that's where "Inside the Earth" steps into the spotlight.Written in 1987, Cole and Degen prove in their second effort that there is no such thing as the dreaded sophomore jinx.This story is just as, if not more, educating and entertaining than "At the Waterworks."

The book starts out with the kids in Ms. Frizzle's class appearing restless over their current learning topic, animal homes.They've been researching the subject for almost a month and "were pretty tired of it."So the class jumps for joy when the Friz announces they're starting something new."We are going to study about our earth!" she exclaims.

However, things don't go exactly as planned.Only four kids actually bring their homework to class the next day - "Each person must find a rock and bring it to school," said Ms. Frizzle.So she decides to take them on a field trip to collect rock specimens . . . and that's when the fun begins!

Ms. Frizzle lives up to the expectations she set in "At the Waterworks."By the time this field trip is done, her class has learned all about the physical features of the earth.The kids discover how rocks are made of minerals.They delve deep into the ground, getting up close and personal with Earth's crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core.Ms. Frizzle educates them on the three classes of rocks - igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary.She relates to the kids how processes inside the earth take millions of years.She even takes them on a tour through a volcano!All throughout the field trip, the class receives hands-on experience with various rocks - basalt, granite, limestone, obsidian, pumice, sandstone, shale, etc.

And these details are only scratching the surface of what Cole and Degen, not to mention Ms. Frizzle, have lined up for readers in this book.Blending comedy with truth, this is a welcome addition to any children's bookshelf, either in the classroom or at home.And just as they did with their first story, Cole and Degen use the final pages to distinguish what things were accurate in the story and what things were made up.

As is her fashion, Ms. Frizzle leaves readers a hint at what is to come in her next adventure.My guess is that it has something to do with the human body.Talk about an inside-job!

Cole and Degen surpass the benchmark they set in "At the Waterworks" with "Inside the Earth."There are facts and figures, hilarity and humor, bursting from every page.Don't miss out on a chance to ride the magic school bus.

As Ms. Frizzle herself would say, "This way, class!"

Inside The Earth
This storyis about a class of students that is bord then one day they all go on a journey inside the earth and the kids have all these questions that all get answered.the reason I like this book so much is because it tells so much about the earth in a way that is fun for the students.

Awesome Book
This book is a great book to teach kids about the inside of the earth, and other scientific stuff. It gets your imagination flowing! Its fun and interesting; I always loved the Magic School Bus series! Ms. Frizzle is so funny!

Review
This book was about Miss Frizzle's class.Miss Frizzle's classes are always taking wild journeys everyone.On minute they are in the classroom like a normal class, the next they are somewhere very unusual.In this book they traveled inside the earth to study about it.The book talks about all the things inside the Earth and there are great explanations to many questions that children might have about the earth.
I like this book because it teaches children a lot about what the earth is made up of and it does it in such a way that children will stay interested and amused.A lot of children are really fond of science and things and this book teaches them about science in a fun way.Even children that don't really enjoy science would like this book because it's a fun book.Things happen that wouldn't really happen in real life so in a way it is fantasy like and a lot of children would like that.
I think the author was trying to teach children something and do it in such a way that it is fun.They will enjoy the story of the class traveling into the middle of the earth but there is a lot of science in there for the children to learn also.

The Frizz Does a Jules Verne
This best-selling children`s science series is excellent for reading aloud, while older kids (and parents) will appreciate the range and depth of information, as well. The story-text of the original series is at once humorous, engaging, and packed with facts.Lively and amusing illustrations include cartoon bubbles, as well as "reports" by the students in the story.Ms Frizzle is a Mary Poppins-like teacher with oomph, and a wardrobe to match, who challenges and leads her students, recurring characters who reflect the multicultural nature of the US, on amazing fieldtrips.

In INSIDE THE EARTH, the fabled bus turns into a steam shovel, provides the kids and the Frizz with workclothes and digging equipment, to explore to the earth`s core, Jules Verne-style.Along the way, they learn geology, but with the Frizzle spin. ... Read more

Book Description
In forest clearings, beneath star-filled skies, in cathedrals, and before the hearth...women and men have always given voice to the impulse to celebrate the world that surrounds and sustains them. Now, as we face a diminished present and an uncertain future, the need to honor the interconnection between people and the planet is heightened.

From Walt Whitman, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Black Elk, toMargaret Atwood, the Rig Veda, and the chant of a Samar fisherman, the varied voices linked here offer songs and prayers for land, sea, and air; graces for food; and invocations, poems, and passages that reveal in the common spiritual heritage of all who cherish creation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)