Extreme Rocks & Minerals! Q&A Book

Some minerals are extremely soft—as soft as baby powder. Other minerals are extremely hard—like diamonds, the hardest natural substance in the world. Some rocks were once extremely hot—they were made from magma deep under the earth.

Do you know that you use minerals when you look in a mirror, brush your teeth, or sprinkle salt on your French fries? Find out all the answers about rocks and minerals—even how to study them yourself—when you dig in to Extreme Rocks & Minerals! Q&A.

Children's Literature

This book takes the reader through all of the different types of rocks and how each rock and mineral is formed. Starting with what a mineral is and how it is formed, the author explains how people use minerals in everyday life. Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks are explained in detail, and different examples are provided for each. The reader will enjoy seeing photographs of these rocks and learning about where you can find them. The author's language is age-appropriate and yet suitably challenging for the reader. Since gemstones and ore are forms of rocks, these are also depicted towards the end of the non-fiction text. Many pages refer to the Smithsonian website and encourage the reader to find more information on the topic or see exactly what the Smithsonian has to offer relating to the topic. The photographs are clear and pertain to the written text. Close-ups of different pieces of rock help the reader to visualize the rocks being discussed. Larger text throughout the pages helps the reader to notice important concepts and facts to remember. The end of the book includes an interview with a geologist, which will help readers to understand the point of view of a rock scientist. The information is clear, and this book would be an asset to any geology curriculum. Reviewer: Rachel Miller