HOT Topic: How Does a Volcano Become An Island? by Linda Tagliaferro

The world's largest island that is almost entirely made up of active (still capable of erupting) volcanoes is Iceland, a country in the north Atlantic Ocean. Iceland formed millions of years ago from underwater eruptions.

With Iceland's notorious Eyjafjallajokul still spewing a plume of ash all over western Europe, volcanoes are a real, um, hot topic just now. Linda Tagliaferro's newest, How Does A Volcano Become An Island? (Perspectives) (Raintree, 2010), offers an timely, absorbing, and informative look at the role of volcanic activity in the creation of Earth's landforms.

Tagliaferro opens with "What's Inside Earth?" a chapter which covers the basics of geology, including the planet's inner and outer core of molten iron, the mantle, and the crust, of which only a small part constitutes the solid portion of our world. From this basis the author moves to a discussion of the movement of tectonic plates, the consequent earthquakes they may cause, and the rise of earthquakes at certain weak spots in the crust, with special attention to the Ring of Fire, noted dormant and currently active volcanoes, and the development and study of underwater volcanoes by the submersible ROVs, (Remotely Operated Vehicles). The textbook types, shield volcanoes, cinder cone volcanoes, and composite cone volcanoes, are described and their role in constructing islands such as Iceland, Sicily, and the Hawaiian chain are introduced, amplified by full-color photographs on each page.

The author then turns her attention to the development of plant and animal life on volcanic islands over time, as birds drop seeds, coconuts float up on cinder cone beaches, and stowaway plants and animals ride flotsam on ocean currnts until they fortuitously wash up onshore. The Galapagos Islands and their exotic lifeforms, such as the marine iguana, giant tortoises, up to six feet in length and living 100 years or more, lava gulls and waved albatrosses, are given special coverage. Iceland, with its newest volcanic islet, Surtsey, dating back only to 1963, is discussed, with photos of its new inhabitants--seagulls, grasses, and, yes, dandelions. Historic eruptions, such as that of Earth's most memorable modern island volcano, Krakatoa, are also described.

The final chapter, "How Else Do Islands Form?" briefly covers islands produced by the flooding of lowlands, coral atolls, and offshore barrier islands. Appendices include a glossary of the terms introduced in boldface in the text, a bibliography ("Find Out More"), books and a trio of "hot" websites for further research, and a complete index.

With a crisp and highly readable and informative text, plenty of diagrams and color photos which illustrate information as it is presented, and useful backmatter, this latest title in Raintree's wide-ranging Perspectives science series is particularly useful for curriculum support, research, and browsing by students intrigued with the volcano currently in the news.

Nonfiction That Makes the Grade: Volcanoes by Melanie Waldron

What can hurl lumps of melted rock hundreds of feet into the air? What can blow itself apart and destroy everything in its path?

The answer is a volcano.

Luring young readers to pore over nonfiction books is not easy. Publishers, however, were not born yesterday, and they know how to use the pull of the sensational to appeal to kids. Heinemann Library's Mapping Earthforms series is no exception. Exploring the intriguing science on the borderline between geology and physical and human geography, these books take readers beyond their generic "wow" response to powerful natural phenomena to think about how humans have historically interacted with these powerful forces of nature. Among the solid science titles in this group, one standout is the eye-catching Volcanoes (Mapping Earth Forms).

The book offers an in-depth discussion of the nature and causes of volcanoes, types of volcanoes (shield, caldera, and strato) and the location of these types around the globe. Attention is given to plate tectonics and their role in the formation of volcanoes, as well as the behavior of magma and even the possible effect of low pressure, such as is noted in typhoons, as a potential trigger for eruptions.

A full chapter is given to the science of volcanic eruption, documenting the forms of eruptive substances--lava flows, volcanic bombs, pyroclastic flows, and lahar flows. --with the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens used as an example. Strategies for predicting volcanoes--seismic and gas monitoring, historical patterning, and landscape changes--are discussed, along with ways people near volcanoes can prepare for evacuation and rescue operations if they become necessary.

Another section discusses the effects of volcanoes upon life in its immediate area, from lava barrens where nothing flourishes to fertile volcanic soil which provides vegetation, cropland, and wildlife alike with favorable habitats. The way of life of people "living in the shadow" of volcanoes provides examples of human coping in Chile, Peru, Indonesia, Monserrat, and Mt. Etna. The chilling possibility of "supervolcanoes," whose eruptions might have the ability to alter earth's climate for years, are also touched upon in the final chapters, and an accompanying map shows that three of these are in the western United States.

Extensive scientific terms are introduced and defined within the text and, thankfully, duplicated in the glossary. Written at higher levels (e.g., Accelerated Reader levels 5.1-7.0) than most science nonfiction sets, this series is a valuable resource for middle readers for research writing or simply browsing An appendix ("Volcano Facts"), a bibliography ("Find Out More"), glossary, and index round out the backmatter.