From the Publisher
Earthquakes can destroy whole cities and towns and kill thousands of people. This book covers the causes of earthquakes, the places they usually occur, and what to do if one strikes.
Publishers Weekly
With brief, accessible text, engaging topics and a perforated page of collectible cards Seymour Simon's See More Reader series will rope in even the most reluctant readers. According to Danger! Earthquake, "most of the world's earthquakes happen in a zone called the Pacific Ring of Fire." A map of the world highlights the hot spots. Bulldozers, dump trucks and offshore oil rigs get their due in Giant Machines. Additional offerings include Wild Bears; Killer Whales; and Planets Around the Sun. (Apr.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.
Marilyn Courtot
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Children's Literature
Seymour Simon is known for his nonfiction books for kids. Now he has developed a series of early readers called "SeeMore Readers." A bit of a pun, but one that may go right over the kids' heads. Each book features large bright pictures with a factual text that will engage young readers. At first the statistic that there are about a million earthquakes around the world is startling, then Simon states that only about 100 of these cause damage and fewer than 20 result in deaths. Unfortunately, the death tolls can be quite high especially in South America and Asia. Readers learn about the two scales of measurement—the Richter scale that measures the power of an earthquake and the Mercalli scale that tells how much damage an earthquake caused. As with other titles in the series, Simon makes comparisons that kids can understand—for example on the Mercalli scale windows break at Level 5. A two page spread shoes the Pacific Ring of Fire where most earthquakes occur and red dots to show where major earthquakes have occurred in the last 30 years. The explanations of what causes earthquakes are solid as well as their power even if the ground itself isn't when one happens. Having experienced two quakes in California myself—it is a strange sensation and while most kids will never experience a quake, this book with its facts and pictures will provide good insight and excellent advice should they ever be faced with such an experience. 2002, SeaStar Books,
School Library Journal
Gr 1-3-These easy-readers are dominated by large, colorful photographs. Many of those in Danger! appeared in Simon's Earthquakes (Morrow, 1991) and some are poorly reproduced, often grainy. A few lines of generally clear and informative text accompany the illustrations on each page. The numerous examples in the first book tend to focus on earthquakes that scored highest on the Richter scale. Giant Machines uses simple language and easy-to-understand comparisons to explain the size and capacity of these mechanical marvels. The illustrations are crisp and clear and will grab readers' attention; one features a giant dump truck with tires twice as tall as a person and another shows a huge tractor that looks like a futuristic bug. Both volumes include tear-out "collector's cards" that families might enjoy but will soon disappear from library copies.-Edith Ching, St. Albans School, Mt. St. Alban, Washington, DC Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Chilling, thrilling, and packed with facts, these Level 2 "See More Readers," intended for children in grades 1-3, will capture the attention of beginners as well as older, less-able readers hungry for facts about the world. Simon (Destination Space, p. 427, etc.) links awesome photos to lucid explanations rich in detail. Here, he explains why and where earthquakes occur, tells how they are measured, and recounts some of the most spectacular earthquakes of all time. Readers will learn that Alaska has more earthquakes than any other state and that the 1985 earthquake in Mexico City killed more than 10,000 people. Simon provides a handy map of earthquake regions and explains what to do if you are in one. Another entry at this level, Super Storms (1-58717-137-6) describes thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and blizzards. In it, he states, "A bolt of lightning is 50,000 degrees. That's five times hotter than the surface of the sun." And "In July 1995, a fast-moving group of thunderstorms hit New York State. . . . Over 3,000 lightning bolts struck in one minute." Each title comes with four collectible trading cards, but they aren't really necessary since this is very appealing science reading. (Easy reader/nonfiction. 6-8)
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