Fault Lines & Tectonic Plates: Discover What Happens When the Earth’s Crust Moves

Reilly provides a detailed examination of the movements of tectonic plates, and the effects of those movements, in this addition to the Built It Yourself series. Throughout, Reilly poses relevant questions (“Are there any benefits to earthquakes? Do they serve a valuable purpose for our planet?”), discusses scientists’ hypotheses about Earth, and invites readers to get involved via 25 activities, which include cooking molten rock candy, making a cardboard box seismograph, and creating a Jackson Pollack–style painting of an erupting volcano. Thompson’s cartoon spot illustrations break up the book’s substantial text. It’s a solid starting point for readers interested in Earth’s geology. Ages 9–12.[em] (Jan.) [/em]