NLA

February 2019

ISBN:   9780642279347

RRP: $29.99

It’s taken a long time to get this beauty into my hands but at last I have been able to savour it’s wealth of information and there are two reasons why it’s most timely to be able to review it now.

One is that the esteemed author has just picked up the Educational Publishing award for a student resource – jolly well done Peter! Secondly, the school holidays are approaching which is frabjous news for some of us (educators) but perhaps not so much for parents who may be dreading the ‘I’m borrrrrrrrred’ refrain and this volume will  prove to be the perfect choice for any curious reader of around ten years upwards.

With his habitual diligence, dedication to accuracy, passion for science and nature and an unerring ability to engage and interest his audience, Peter takes his readers on a wide-ranging virtual field trip from the beginnings of Earth to the current concerns of climate change.  Throughout youngsters will be treated to fun facts, easy to understand explanations, fun and interesting projects to complete themselves as well as a veritable treasure trove of earth science information.

Peter’s particular passion for sharing his knowledge and often quirky snippets is well known amongst his friends (much to our continued delight and amazement!) but it is his commitment to bringing science to young people that is absolutely one of his most stellar qualities.

As is to be expected from all the NLA’s catalogue this a quality production all round with styling, illustrations, diagrams and layout all completely ‘en pointe’ and children will thoroughly revel in dipping into their favourite sections.  As long as parents don’t mind a little digging, observing, tracking or requests for outings to places of natural interest, all holiday ‘woes’ will be solved and who knows? may well be fostering a life long love of all things scientific.

I highly recommend this for readers from around ten years upwards though the age is fluid – any able reader will relish it and that includes curious, interested adults.