Four children and a dog climbing a forest trail provide the framework for this discussion of mountains. Along the way, the knowledgeable characters explain the earth's structure and tectonic plates as well as the different types of mountains and how they are formed. Bright line-and-watercolor-wash pictures and diagrams illustrate the text. Apart from the problem of scale that crops up when showing four children and a tree sitting on a cross-section of the earth extending down for 95 miles, the illustrations succeed quite well in showing the structures, forces, and processes that mold mountains. An appealing addition to the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out series. (Reviewed August 1995)

Four types of mountains are formed by different plate movements in the earth's crust. A group of hiking children and numerous diagrams provide a clear, substantial geology lesson. The congenial picture-book format suggests a younger audience than will be likely to absorb the information.

A charming interracial group of young children set out one Saturday to climb a local mountain. When they stop to rest, some 4,000 feet above the town, they find a fossil of an animal which lived millions of years ago when the mountain was the bottom of an ancient sea. That stimulates a discussion of how mountains are formed: folded, fault-block, dome, underwater ranges, and cone- shaped. Zoehfeld (What Lives in a Shell?, 1994, not reviewed, etc.) presents plenty of good basic information in this Stage 2 Let's- Read-And-Find-Out Science title. The colorful illustrations add appeal, but the shifting perspectives may confuse literal-minded readers. In one picture, children rest on the hill; in another, they shift the eight huge plates that make up the earth as if they were puzzle pieces. A little explanation will go a long way, though, and Zoehfeld and Hale's affection for the subject comes through on every page. (Nonfiction. 7-9)"

Gr 2-3--In this clear, concise presentation, four children introduce the subject of mountain formation by taking a hike in their local community. The youngsters appear throughout the book, commenting in dialogue bubbles about specific facts, giving demonstrations of ways mountains change, or making humorous asides. They provide continuity and keep the tone light while information is related to explain why fossils of sea animals are found atop mountains, the various layers in the earth, why volcanoes form, and the effects of erosion. The text and illustrations work together well in this sequential, well-organized book. Much credit goes to Hale's engaging watercolor illustrations done in cheery colors; they are simply drawn but add effective examples and diagrams. Used with Franklyn Branley's Volcanoes (HarperCollins, 1985), this fine addition to the science series would be of value to students interested in the geology and the changes of planet Earth.--Diane Nunn, Richard E. Byrd Elementary School, Glen Rock, NJ