From the land we walk on and the oceans that surround us to the happenings hidden beneath the surface and the weather systems that impact the way we live.
Australian Backyard Earth Scientist explores all of this and more.
It’s a fantastic resource for kids, to help them learn more about the planet, how it came to be and how it changes over time.
There are facts galore, detailed explanations and cool sections that dive into subjects for a closer look.
You’ll find chapters on rocks, weather, oceans, climate change and more, cool ‘did you know’ sections throughout and ‘what ologist is that?’ information whenever a new area of earth science is introduced.
I didn’t know there were selenologists (people who study the moon) and orologists (people who study mountains), but I do now, and I loved finding out about these fascinating areas of study.
I also love that the book has been designed with kids in mind. The text is simple and clear, and it’s broken up across the pages with lots of headings, so as not to overwhelm young readers with too much information at once.
It’s also packed with hundreds of stunning photographs, which helps break up the text and makes the book very visually engaging. Each photo is accompanied by a caption, helping to explain tricky concepts and cement meaning for young readers.
But that’s not all.
For kids eager to learn with their hands, there are several projects included in the book. Kids can make their own seismometer, frog pond, ice crystals and more, and detailed instructions make all the projects easy to follow.
Schools will love this book. It provides interesting and detailed information and the projects would be fantastic experiments for classrooms. That said, it’s also the perfect book for homes, for kids curious about the world around them and to use as a reference guide for school assignments.
Comprehensive but easy to understand, visually engaging and designed for kids, Australian Backyard Earth Scientist is a winner!
Title: Australian Backyard Earth Scientist
Author: Peter Macinnis
Publisher: National Library of Australia, $29.99
Publication Date: 1 February 2019
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780642279347
For ages: 10+
Type: Non-Fiction, Junior Non-Fiction
