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Pack up your gear and get ready to go on a dig. Whether it's iron ore, dazzling gemstones, or a prehistoric creature preserved in amber, a mother lode of exciting discoveries await budding paleontologists and geologists in this informative picture book. Large and detailed full-color spreads, complemented by clear, concise text unearth the mysteries of the ground beneath our feet. Children will learn how rocks, crystals, minerals, and fossils are formed, where they are found, and how they are used. Step-by-step illustrations and captions explore such processes as the fossilization of ancient animals and plants, together with the work of the scientists who catalog and preserve them. Includes an illustrated glossary and an index to sharpen the young reader's reference skills.

Chris Pellant's vast collection of photographs of rocks, minerals, and fossils is used by publishers worldwide.

Gr 4-5-Visually inviting, this series entry has colorful drawings, a minimum of text, and a format dependent upon breaking a large topic into small segments that can be contained on facing pages. Subjects such as "Our rocky world," "Layers of life," and "Precious gemstones" are covered briefly in introductory paragraphs and captions accompanying the eye-catching art. Very simplistic in approach (not all aluminum ends up as cans), this slender work will attract browsers in a classroom collection, but is not a first choice for libraries.-Patricia Manning, formerly at Eastchester Public Library, NY Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.