By Catherine Weyerhaeuser Morley
Mountain Press, $12.00, 32 pages
It is natural for children to ask questions. When those questions deal with science and nature, however, uninformed parents and educators can find it difficult to provide answers. From Mountain Press, known for its series of Roadside Geologies profiling many states, Catherine Morley’s Where Do Mountains Come From, Momma? provides a wonderful resource for an introduction to earth sciences. A young girl asks her mother questions about mountains, and the answers unfold. In just 32 pages, readers learn about plate tectonics, continental drift, fossils, mountain building by several mechanisms, volcanoes, erosion and vast amounts of geologic time. The text is perfectly minimal, while the detailed and beautiful full page illustrations provide simple visual answers. More important, one can learn about asking questions and sharing the search for knowledge with loved ones. Where Do Mountains Come From, Momma? also seems to stress two aspects of science education that have been given more attention recently: that parents should be engaged in learning about science with their children, and that young girls interested in science should be supported rather than discouraged. In both its ability to communicate concepts of earth science and encourage kids and adults alike to “wonder” about nature, Morley’s book succeeds.
Reviewed by Michael Barton
[amazon asin=0878425829&text=Buy On Amazon]
[amazon asin=0878425829&text=Buy On Amazon&template=carousel]
I wonder if it is a book that really serves true science or if it is another book on “Creation Science” in disguise. Would hate to buy it and get caught with a dud in my hand.
This book is not based on “Creation Science.” It’s based on current geologic thinking. It discusses plate tectonics, fossils, volcanoes, etc….
The book is indeed true science, and does NOT address a young earth viewpoint.
Hello,
I’m work for Mountain Press, the publisher of “Where Do Mountains Come From, Momma?” This book is written with a true scientific perspective. We also publish the Roadside Geology and Geology Underfoot series for adults.
Anne
Hi. I am Cathy Morley, the author of the book. I majored in geology in college and wrote and illustrated the book with the intent of making the concepts of plate tectonics fun and understandable to children. I used college textbooks for my research and chose to work with a publisher that is well recognized for their books on geology.