Discovery

VOLCANOES AND EARTHQUAKES by Don Harper; Ladybird Discovery (Penguin), 1995; 30 pp; $9.95; hard-cover

Reviewed by Barbara Byers

This handy sized book portrays, with clear colour illustrations, the natural beauty and devastating effects of volcanoes and earthquakes, ranging from historical Pompeii's Vesuvius to Armenia in 1988. The text explains the reasons for both the violent and gentle kinds of volcanic activity and related events, like tsunamis and hot pools.

In Ladybird user-friendly style, words in bold type are explained in the glossary. I like this book's size, clarity and succinctness, and the inviting, imaginative artwork which includes a fascinating 8-page gatefold depicting what happened at Pompeii. The information is particularly clear, accurate and well suited to project work, and it also covers aspects of the primary school Science Curriculum. It would be a useful reference book for any school library or a welcome present for any budding vulcanologists. Reading age 8-10 years.

Barbara Byers teaches at St Michael and All Angels School in Christchurch.