Reviewed by Shannon Cde Baca
Lead Teacher/science
This is one in a series of five volumes on Earth science topics. The topic of soil is covered with some depth, and this book would also be good support for a unit on plants or gardening. The authors begin with an explanation and illustration of the question “What is soil?” From there they address formation, composition, layers (horizons), appearance, and a closing chapter on soil conservation.
All of the books in this series are formatted in a similar fashion. The text material highlights the key points of content. The coverage is broad but the concepts are presented with clear, accessible language, color photographs and a clear flow among the connections between each chapter. There are a few microscopic photos, most notably bacteria and sand grains, where it would have been helpful to explain to the reader that these are microscopic views. Other than that tiny omission, the photos are well–captioned and clearly support the text material.
For the class that is beginning a study that involves plants or soil, this book would be an excellent, nonfiction addition to the unit material or for the nonfiction library. This book is an excellent addition for 3rd through 5th grade students.
Review posted on 12/3/2012
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