The Incredible yet True Adventures of Alexander von Humboldt by Volker Mehnert illustrated by Claudia Lieb

 This illustrated, over-sized biography reveals Alexander von Humboldt's life-long curiosity and love for nature and science. Because of an inheritance, he was able to travel the world, mostly in South America. His energy and enthusiasm are contagious and admriable. 

I love the endpages. Beautiful two-page illustration spreads   I like the art as much as the words!

Considerations: evolution/old earth view; Aime, his traveling companion, likes wine and women; throughout the book the author inserted information about white oppressors

-Borrowed from the library. 

The Buried City of Pompeii by Shelley Tanaka illustrated by Greg Ruhl*

I read this aloud to my boys to support our study of Ancient Rome.
Readers experience Ancient Roman life and the day Mt. Vesuvisus erupted by witnessing Eros's, the steward of the large house of the Menander, daily routine and his reaction to the eruption.
Interspersed throughout the book are photographs and text boxes of archaeological findings where Pompeii used to stand.
*Highly recommend.
-We own this book.

I Survived The Eruption of Mount St. Helens, 1980 by Lauren Tarshis illustrated by Scott Dawson

Ms. Tarshis originally began this series because her three sons did not like to read.  It seemed to her that there were tons of books that appealed to girl readers but not boys.  So she created a series which would encourage reluctant boy readers to pick up a book and enjoy it.  She was very successful.
Some girls, however, wrote to her and asked why there were not girl main characters in this series.  As a result, Ms. Tarshis decided to have a girl as a main character in her latest book.
In my opinion, books with strong female characters abound and was greatly disappointed to see this switch!
Jessie and her best friends, twin brothers Sam and Eddie, find themselves within miles of Mount St. Helen's when it erupts.  With determination, Jessie escapes the rubble and finds help to rescue her friends.
-Borrowed from the library.
Perfect for reluctant readers.
Guided Reading Level: R (beginning of 4th grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 4th

The Rattlebang Picnic by Margaret Mahy illustrated by Steven Kellogg*

When Mr. and Mrs. McTavish marry, they make a huge decision-do they purchase a fancy, expensive car or have a large family?  They choose a large family (seven children) and purchase a rattlebang car.  In this car, the family and Granny McTavish like to go on picnics.  One day they decide to venture onto the tip-top of Mount Fogg for a picnic.  As they ascend to the top, pieces fall off the rattlebang car.  A very exciting adventure awaits them at the top!
*Highly recommend.
A fun read with Mr. Kellogg's humorous illustrations.
Guided Reading Level: N (beginning of 3rd grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.6

Geronimo Stilton The Volcano of Fire-The Fifth Adventure in the Kingdom of Fantasy*

My second grader read this book two times in two days!!  Needless to say, he really liked it!
Geronimo's main mission was to stop earthquakes from destroying the Kingdom of Fantasy plus rescue Sproutness, a fairy.
Guided Reading Level: T (4th grade)
Grade Level Equivalent: 4.2
**Highly recommend.
Text features: headings, bold font, labels, diagrams, maps
Strategies: check for understanding, vocab. expansion/word choice

What Was Pompeii? by Jim O'Connor illustrated by John Hinderliter*

A great book to have in the classroom when studying about Roman life and the Vesuvius eruption.
Vesuvius erupting is the premise for the book but Mr. O'Connor delves into the various aspects of Roman life during that time period.  A chapter is dedicated to the discovery of buried Pompeii.
Lots of text features: diagrams, table of content, picture captions, 16 photographs, headings, bold font, time lines, index.
Written in a manner that shows how exciting history is!
*Highly recommend.
Pair with I Survived the Destruction of Pompeii 79 AD and Pompeii . . .Buried Alive! Step into Reading

Disaster Strikes -Volcano Blast by Marlane Kennedy*

Siblings Noah and Emma take a vacation with their parents to Alaska where their father, a volcanologist, wanted to study a stratovolcano.  Noah is less than thrilled.  Then he, his sister and new friend Alex find themselves contending with a dangerous volcanic explosion.
My second grader read this book to himself and enjoyed it.
*Highly recommend.
Guided Reading Level: Q (beginning of 4th grade)

I Survived The Destruction of Pompeii, AD 79 by Lauren Tarshis illustrated by Scott Dawson*

When Tata and Marcus' owner dies, his nephew inherits them and immediately separates the father and son.  The two are reunited when the mountain Vesuvius begins to act strangely.  The two have a chance to escape their cruel master but their conscience propels them to warn the town of Pompeii of the impending doom.
Ms. Tarshis shares more facts about the event and historical information in the back.
*Highly recommend.
Points to discuss/warnings: mentions that a character curses-the word is not written; the lanista is very cruel; gladiator games are explained and explicit about their cruelty; Marcus deals with hatred towards Festus his owner and the lanista; science is the authority

Island A Story of the Galapagos by Jason Chin

Through beautiful illustrations and short chapters, Mr. Chin reveals how an island is born and how life comes in to inhabit it.
Warning/Points to discuss: He goes into Darwinism and evolution.  He also has an "old earth view".

Pompeii . . .Buried Alive! by Edith Kunhart illustrated by Michael Eagle*

Step into Reading  #3
Three chapters describe the activities of Pompeii the day of the eruption plus its discovery.
*Highly recommend.
Strategies: connections-T-T, main idea/details, cause/effect

Text set:
You Would Not Have Wanted to Live in Pompeii!
I Survived #10-The Destruction of Pompeii AD 79 (forthcoming-Aug. 2014)

You Wouldn't Want to Live in Pompeii! by John Malam illustrated by David Antram*

"A Volcanic Eruption You'd Rather Avoid"
Told from a Greek slave's point of view, the reader learns about the years and days before and during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.   Two pages focus on Pompeii's discovery in 1748.
Humor sprinkled throughout via "Handy Hint" sections.
Text features:  contents, maps, side pictures/facts, labels, picture captions, headings, dates/times headings, glossary, index
*Highly recommend.
Strategies: connections (T-T), synthesizing, cause/effect, main idea/details
Text set: (pair with---)
1. Pompeii . . Buried Alive!  by Edith Kunhardt
http://www.amazon.com/Pompeii-Buried-Alive-Step-Reading/dp/0394888669
2. Detectives in Togas by Henry Winterfeld
http://www.amazon.com/Detectives-Togas-Henry-Winterfeld/dp/0152162801
3. Lauren Tarsish's new I Survived book-Destruction of Pompeii (coming Aug. 2014)
http://www.amazon.com/Survived-10-Destruction-Pompeii-AD/dp/0545459397

The Magic School Bus Inside a Volcano by Kristin Earhart illustrated by Carolyn Bracken*

Ms. Frizzle and her students drill through the center of the earth and emerge from a volcano.  Once again the book includes a lot of facts but does not overwhelm the beginning reader.
*Highly recommend series.

Volcano Rising By Elizabeth Rusch illustrated by Susan Swan*

There are many volcano books available to kids.  Despite that fact, Ms. Rusch and Ms. Swan have created an unique informational book for different ages.  The main text is quite simple and the full page collage pictures will appeal to preschoolers and Kindergartners.  On most pages there is a paragraph off to the side in smaller font with more information that make this book excellent for middle to upper age elementary children.

Text structures- diagrams, cross sections, labels, pronunciations, volcano vocabulary glossary, bibliography, and a "learn more" section.
Highly recommend.

Volcano! by Ellen J. Pager illustrated by Nancy Woodman

Vulcan the dragon takes the reader inside a volcano.  How and why a volcano erupts is explored in this book plus different types of lava flow and where volcanoes are located around the world.
At the back of the book there are directions to build and erupt your own volcano.
Excellent book published by the National Geographic Society.
Highly recommend it.
Nonfiction text features: maps, diagrams, labels, photographs, following directions