Well attuned to what students need to know as well as what they find interesting, the books in the ongoing Good Question! series provide useful overviews of topics in science and American history. Both the writing and the illustrations are consistently good. On one page of each spread, the text asks and answers a pertinent question or two, while the facing page displays a related photo, painting, digital picture, diagram, or map. The quality of the paper allows for excellent reproduction of these colorful visual elements. Why Does the Earth Spin? answers a broad array of questions about the formation and structure of the planet as well as discussing its highest, lowest, wettest, and driest places. A dependable, attractive series for curious students.

Carson uses an engaging question-and-answer format to explore major topics about earth science and our planet in space: the age of the earth's surface and interior features, weather, climate and the seasons, and the moon's gravitational pull and tides. Prominently displayed color photos, computer-generated images, and diagrams help explain the concepts. Reading list, websites. Ind.