Kaboom! A Volcano Erupts

Whether you are five of fifty, who can resist a book titled Kaboom!?

The vivacious text is combined with the cartoon illustrations of Pulitzer Prize-nominated artist Zoe Si, creating an irresistible nonfiction picture book for your youngest budding volcanologists.

Author Jessica Kulekjian has her volcano tell us its story, from slowly awakening from its long dormancy to the aftereffects of an eruption.

“I am a volcano.”

“A quiet, slumbering volcano.”

“Zzz”

“I’ve been asleep for thousands of years, but now something’s stirring deep inside.”

The volcano’s dialog is accompanied by a red bird narrator that adds scientific details and terminology.

“Here it comes! Magma and gases rise from the chamber and up through a tube called a conduit. They’re ready to escape. What’s next?”

Spoiler alert: After the volcano goes “Kaboom!”, things settle down, and the book concludes with sections titled “Phases of Volcanos”, “Anatomy of a Volcano”, “Common Types of Volcanos”, and “Author’s Selected Sources”.

Kaboom! A Volcano Erupts is a winner. Not only is it a fun read-aloud for the adult to “whisper”, “hiss”, “gurgle”, and “growl” through, but imagine the audience participation. Find a space for it on your library shelf if you can. And then enjoy taking it off the shelf and sharing.