Mountain Dance by Thomas Locker, Thomas Locker (Illustrator)

From the Publisher

Listen. The earth seems still and quiet, but constantly, silently, it is moving and changing.

Mountain Dance takes readers from summit to shore, and into the depths of the earth, exploring the geographic forces it takes to move, build, and wear away the great peaks and valleys of our planet. Thomas Locker's poetic text and exquisitely detailed paintings reveal fascinating details of geology in this beautiful and inspiring introduction to earth science.

Publishers Weekly

Thomas Locker's Mountain Dance tells the story behind one of Earth's most majestic creations in this companion to Water Dance. Lush landscapes and brief lyrical text describe "fault-block," "shy dome" and "folded" mountains. Back matter provides more details about volcanoes, erosion and mountain ranges. ( Nov.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Children's Literature

The companion to Water Dance and Cloud Dance, this is another pairing of a brief, poetic text with Locker's gorgeous landscape paintings, each a museum-worthy feast for hungry eyes. "Mountains rise through the clouds/in a slow dance that goes on and on/for millions of years./Every kind of mountain moves in its own way," begins Locker's simple, though scientifically accurate, portrayal of various kinds of mountains (volcanoes, domes, folded mountains, ranges), shaped by the forces of ice, wind and water erosion. Occasionally Locker's use of the correct scientific nomenclature for each kind of mountain spoils the poetic quality of the text:"Near cracks in the earth's crust,/jagged fault-block mountains/lift and sink, lean and bend." Locker might have done better to rely on his more detailed endnote to introduce terminology such as "fault block" and "shield volcano." But overall, this is another stunning and breathtaking celebration of the beauty of nature. 2001, Harcourt/Silver Whistle, $16.00. Ages All. Reviewer:Claudia Mills

School Library Journal

K-Gr 4-Locker combines near-perfect oil paintings with small bits of thoughtful poetry to create a book that readers will return to for many different reasons. He tells the story of geologic evolution throughout eternity in a majestic, awe-inspiring manner. His verse describes the various types of mountains; how they were created by wind, fire, and water; and how these mountains "dance" throughout time. The verses and paintings complement each other perfectly-the description Locker creates for each type of mountain is centered on the page directly across from its painting. Readers can feel the heat from volcanoes and watch ice from glaciers melt and cascade down sloping hills. The book ends with thumbnail sketches of the mountains and additional text for those who would like to know more. The vast array of information contained in a simple format with paintings that are true to life make this a monumental book that will be used equally successfully in a storytime or in a unit on geology.-Susan Marie Pitard, formerly at Weezie Library for Children, Nantucket Atheneum, MA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

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