Different Kinds of Soil. (Everybody Digs Soil). Molly Aloian. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2010. 32 pp., pbk. & hc., $9.95 (pbk.), $20.76 (RLB.). ISBN 978-0-7787-5413-8 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-5400-8 (RLB.). Subject Headings: Soils-Juvenile literature. Soil chemistry-Juvenile literature. Grades 3-5 / Ages 8-10. Review by Harriet Zaidman. **** /4
	How is Soil Made? (Everybody Digs Soil). Heather L. Montgomery. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2010. 32 pp., pbk. & hc., $9.95 (pbk.), $20.76 (RLB.). ISBN 978-0-7787-5414-5 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-5401-5 (RLB.). Subject Headings: Soils-Juvenile literature. Soil ecology-Juvenile literature. Grades 3-5 / Ages 8-10. Review by Harriet Zaidman. **** /4
	Micro Life in Soil. (Everybody Digs Soil). Natalie Hyde. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2010. 32 pp., pbk. & hc., $9.95 (pbk.), $20.76 (RLB.). ISBN 978-0-7787-5415-2 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-5402-2 (RLB.). Subject Headings: Soil microbiology-Juvenile literature. Microorganisms-Juvenile literature. Grades 3-5 / Ages 8-10. Review by Harriet Zaidman. **** /4
	Soil Erosion and How to Prevent It. (Everybody Digs Soil). Natalie Hyde. St. Catharines, ON: Crabtree, 2010. 32 pp., pbk. & hc., $9.95 (pbk.), $20.76 (RLB.). ISBN 978-0-7787-5416-9 (pbk.), ISBN 978-0-7787-5403-9 (RLB.). Subject Heading: Soil erosion-Juvenile literature. Grades 3-5 / Ages 8-10. Review by Harriet Zaidman. **** /4

excerpt:

Humus is partly decomposed, or broken down, organic matter in soil. It forms from animal waste and dead plant and animal material. It is produced by two main types of micro life, or tiny organism, in soil: microbes and fungi. Microbes are tiny organisms that can be seen only through a microscope. They include bacteria and protozoa, which are tiny animals. Fungi are living things that live on dead or rotting organic matter. There can be billions of microbes in just a small bit of soil. (From How is Soil Made?.)

The cleverly-named "Everybody Digs Soil" series offers young children a wealth of information and inviting photographic illustrations that will inspire them to read on and become experts on the world below their feet.

      Each title follows the standard 32-page format, with two-page chapters, a glossary and index. The background of each off-white page is a tracing of cracked soil, upon which sit black text, photographs and coloured fact-boxes. Many of the pictures depict typical children investigating soil. Inserts, such as 'Soil Facts,' add more information while boxes called 'You Dig It' encourage children to engage in experiments and observe the results.

      This series can augment many teaching units about the natural world. For example, Micro Life in Soil describes the food chain in all its colourful and disgusting glory, from close-ups of mold on stale bread to ants turning leaf litter into nutrients.

      The captions are not completely helpful, unfortunately. There are pictures of fascinating rock formations that are unique enough to include in the book, but the locations are not identified. Curious children will want to know where they are to be found, as well as in the well-known Grand Canyon, etc.

      This series will be popular in a school library, a worthy rival for research material found on the Internet.

Highly Recommended.

Harriet Zaidman is a teacher-librarian in Winnipeg, MB.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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