4 stars

Another great book in the Jump Into Science series. I really enjoyed this one. As a kid, I was terrified of earthquakes. I didn’t realize that here in Wisconsin, we don’t really get big earthquakes. Part of my irrational fear was all of the books and movies that make all earthquakes seem like the end of the world. This is a wonderful book, because it teaches about earthquakes in a way that isn’t scary. It is very matter-of-fact and shows a map of places that get a lot of earthquakes. It is clear that they can cause damage and injury, but it is not presented in an overly-terrifying way. It teaches what causes earthquakes and how to stay safe in them.

At the end of the book, there is a little experiment to do to learn why buildings should be built on certain soil. As with the other books in the series, I would recommend for older children or those really interested in each topic, because they are quite text-heavy with lots of information. There are a lot of really good pictures as well. Good, engaging, educational read.