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The Day of the Twelve-Story Wave.
Diane Swanson. Illustrated by Laura Cook.
Subject Headings:
Grades 2 - 6 / Ages 7 - 11.
**** /4
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excerpt:
In the Atlantic Ocean, the island country of Iceland was also built by underwater volcanoes. In 1963, Icelanders witnessed the birth of another island. They watched the sea boil from the eruption of an undersea volcano. By the next night, a ridge of land rose above the surface. About a year later, that ridge had become an island 1.5 kilometres (1 mile) wide. Icelanders named it after Surtsey, the god of fire.
The book's subtitle, "Grinding Glaciers, Howling Hurricanes, Spewing Volcanoes and Other Awesome Forces of Nature," is an accurate description of what this book contains - lots of interesting scientific and anecdotal information about different natural phenomena. The work is divided into 5 sections: glaciers, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and tornadoes, and storms. Each chapter includes general scientific information about how the natural phenomenon occurs and tales of different natural events that have been recorded or discovered. While the author discusses some terrible disasters in which large loss of life and property occurred, she also mentions those in which loss of life was prevented. The book discusses how human catastrophes can be avoided via modern forecasting techniques.
The information is recorded in an easy-to-understand style. Explanations are clear for the targeted age levels, with the younger children able to understand the contents being read to them. The colour drawings are clear and depict the natural phenomena clearly and are interesting to examine. The book, a paperback, has a strong binding and will stand up well to library use.
A welcome gift for young children, The Day of the Twelve-Foot Wave would be a useful addition to library collections.
Highly recommended.
Harriet Zaidman is a teacher-librarian in Winnipeg.
To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.
Copyright © 1997 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
TABLE OF CONTENTS FOR THIS ISSUE - DECEMBER 12, 1997.
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