Mountains

May 15, 2020

Gr 3-6-Large landforms, such as the Rocky Mountains and Mount Fuji, are natural wonders created millions of years ago. This informative, illustrated guide explains how mountains rose from below the depths of the ocean floor to meet the sky. Madden depicts the varied beauty of plant life, and readers will marvel at the fascinating animals that survive among the harshest environments in the world. For example, a lizard called Potamites montanicola resides in the foothills of the Andes in southern Peru. The lizard is "one of only a few lizards to live so high up, where temperatures are cool." Guillain's rhythmic text complements Madden's colorful illustrations, encouraging readers to explore their surroundings and learn how to protect these fragile ecosystems. A table of contents, an index, and further reading are included. At the end of the book, Guillain directly addresses readers and describes the impact of climate change and the importance of environmental conservation. This latest entry in the "World of Wonder" series takes young readers on a fact-filled journey around the globe. VERDICT An excellent introduction to mountain habitats for middle schoolers.-Annette Herbert, F. E. Smith Elem. Sch., Cortland, NY

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2020
A select world tour of major mountains and mountain ranges, with stops to marvel at distinctive formations and wildlife. Guillain begins at the top--of Mount Everest, that is--with an explanation of how mountains are formed, then moves down its slopes, pausing for closer looks at a small, high-altitude spider, the "icefall" of Khumbu, a snow leopard on the prowl, and finally four types of butterflies found in Himalayan meadows. From then it's on, in a mix of similar slow descents and quicker whistle-stops, to volcanoes in Iceland, the Alps, Mauna Kea (which is higher than Everest, counting the part underwater), the Andes, Mount Fuji, the Rockies, and finally the dazzlingly layered Rainbow Mountains in northwestern China. Along with distant but properly majestic views of snowy, rugged peaks, Madden's mountain scenes feature broad lakes and rivers, wide blue skies, and, in most foregrounds, precisely detailed flora and fauna. Some of the latter go unidentified, and conversely, the rare and large Titicaca water frog and some other creatures mentioned in the text are nowhere to be seen. Still, a sailboat beneath Fuji being the only sign of human occupation, readers are left to appreciate the natural wonders on display undistracted and to join the author in expressing, as she does at the close, a fervent desire to preserve them. Quick but horizon-broadening flyovers, just the ticket for budding naturalists. (map, index, print and web resources) (Informational picture book. 7-9)

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October 1, 2020
Grades 3-6 Majestic, craggy vistas unfold through poetic text and textured, collage-like illustrations in this lovely survey of the world's major mountain ranges and their famous peaks. Guillain paints a complete picture in just a few descriptive paragraphs, covering everything from plate tectonics and a mountain's formation to the climate on its slopes and certain animal inhabitants. The processes or science behind such subjects are named but not explained in detail, so this book is best suited for stoking wonder and curiosity and can be explicated by meatier earth-science texts. Readers will visit the Himalayas, Iceland's volcanic Eyjafjallaj�kull, the Alps, Hawaii's Mauna Kea, the Andes, Japan's Mount Fuji, the Rockies, and China's Rainbow Mountains. A map and note on conservation round out this browser-friendly volume of the World of Wonder series (2 titles).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)