| Educational Read... Recommended... 5 stars | | | | cutaway of the earth's core, illustration of how a |
| The Review | | | | waterfall is formed and a mountain climber scaling |
| Topics included are 'What is a Planet,' 'What is the | | | | a peak caught the children's attention immediately. |
| Earth Made of,' 'How Many Oceans Are There,' | | | | We had just finished Science units regarding |
| 'How are Coastlines Shaped,' 'Have there always | | | | Glaciers and Weather, the children were delighted |
| been mountains,' 'How Are Rivers Made,' 'Are All | | | | to find both topics are included on the pages of |
| Deserts Hot and Sandy,' 'What Is A Glacier,' | | | | this book. As we came to those particular pages |
| 'Where Are The Polar Regions,' 'What is the | | | | the children immediately requested, 'ask us the |
| Earth's atmosphere,' 'Where Does Weather | | | | questions,' 'ask us the questions.' The questions |
| Happen,' 'What is climate,' 'What Are the Earth's | | | | presented regarding glaciers were ones they |
| Natural Resources,' 'Are We Damaging The Planet,' | | | | were able to answer, the material presented on |
| and an Index. | | | | the weather page followed that found in their 4th |
| Each topic heading is depicted on a two page | | | | grade science books, and they were proud that |
| spread and includes a series of questions and | | | | they were able to name the types of clouds, |
| answers as well as a number of brightly colored, | | | | explain how thunder and lighting occur, and discuss |
| well executed drawings. The pages depicting 'How | | | | a weather front knowledgeably. |
| are Coastlines Shaped' are particularly compelling | | | | The children agree HOT TOPIC Planet Earth is a |
| with a single drawing illustrating a length of | | | | great addition to our class library, it is taken to a |
| coastline and showing a protective wall, a length | | | | desk often when the children have a question |
| of beach with several groynes or breatkwaters, a | | | | regarding an aspect of our planet. And it is chosen |
| cave, stacks and arrows to indicate the direction | | | | for free time reading when we simply choose |
| of waves. A discussion of sand color, cause for | | | | what it is we like to read. I like that the book |
| tides, recovering land from the sea, as well as | | | | includes so many topics found in the 4th grade |
| how beaches are formed. | | | | Science text. I am pleased to see little groups of |
| The cover says, 'Discover all the facts with this | | | | 2 or three with the book asking one another |
| question and answer guide.' And, opening the over | | | | questions, finding answers and chattering about |
| I can believe that while maybe not every fact is | | | | the illustrations. |
| there, there are a whole bunch!! My resident | | | | HOT TOPIC Planet Earth is a well researched |
| critics, 4th grade, settled themselves to a session | | | | work filled with a myriad of facts and child |
| as reviewers. They take their job as critics | | | | intriguing illustrations. Discovering that the book is |
| seriously, listen carefully and view the illustrations | | | | published by a British Publisher and is printed in |
| with an eye toward approval or disapproval from | | | | China led the children to search our world map. |
| a child's standpoint. If the work meets their | | | | I received a hard cover copy for review, it is |
| approval we keep it for our classroom, if not, it is | | | | holding up well during classroom use. |
| gone. | | | | I enjoyed the read, happy to recommend. |
| The colors of the brightly illustrated cover with | | | | |