Volcanoes

Nell Cross Beckerman
Illustrated by Kalen Chock
Scholastic Inc.
August 6, 2024
Grades PreK-3

“A rumble. A tremble. A grumble. Growing, growling, getting hot. When will it . . . pop?!” (p. 3-5). Beckerman uses intriguing storytelling to guide children on an adventure exploring wondrous volcanoes. Readers are led from the depths of the ocean floor to the Ring of Fire and all the way to volcanoes in deep space with Beckerman’s dynamic lyrical language. Volcano lava is destructive, but even more damaging are the tsunamis caused by burning rock rain falling from the sky. However, scientists discovered that underwater volcanoes seep mineral rich water allowing a world of life to exist deep in the ocean. Did life on Earth begin around underwater volcanoes? Nonfiction text on each page takes a deeper dive into the science of volcanoes and volcanologists.

The importance of science exploration is an apparent theme when volcanologists risk their safety taking samples trying to predict when volcanoes will erupt. Beckerman calls these risk-takers “superheroes.” Poetic language such as “an avalanche of ash,” “a plume of doom,” and “a cinder shotput” (p. 23) paint a vivid picture of nature’s wonders for the audience. Concept artist, Chock, paints gorgeous illustrations with subdued blues, purples, browns, and bright oranges, enticing the reader to read more about nature’s spectacular marvels. Each page contains exciting volcano dramatics to keep the reader turning the pages. Substantial back matter includes both author’s and illustrator’s notes, further reading, types of volcanic eruptions, more facts about volcanoes, and questions volcanologists are still trying to answer.