Reviewed by Janie Stokes
Gifted Science Teacher
Snow and the Earth is one of eight books in The Science of Weather series for students in grades three to six. The focus of this book is how snow is formed in the atmosphere, the various forms it takes, the conditions it creates on the Earth, and its effects on living things. The photographs are one of the series’ most appealing features; this particular book includes photos of spectacular crystals, snowstorms, glaciers, and snow monkeys. The accurate text covers concepts of precipitation, evaporation, and condensation, as well as how warm-blooded and cold-blooded animals survive in cold climates.
Snow and the Earth could be used in an independent center for research or as a read aloud for younger students. Each book in the series is simple and well designed. The text is easy to read, with important terms printed in bold and written with plenty of contextual clues that will help young readers figure out their definitions. Scattered throughout the book are very simple experiments that a student could do independently. There are good diagrams, maps and charts, as well as an index and a glossary all designed to make learning about snow very easy.
Along with the other books in this series, Snow and the Earth would be a valuable complement to an elementary unit on weather. The consistent and accurate science content, coupled with a friendly format, make this a fine resource for the study of snow and weather.
Review posted on 11/20/2001
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