Volcano Wakes Up!

by Lisa Westberg Peters, Steve Jenkins (Illustrator)

Playful, kid-friendly poems from five alternating points of view explore the volcanic process and its effect on the surrounding land, flora, and fauna. From the lava crickets to the ferns, everyone has something to say about it! Follow one day--from sunrise to moonrise--on the slopes of a young, about-to-shout volcano.

Science-loving kids will get a kick out of this exciting look at an erupting volcano, and the creative poems offer something for everyone.

Genres: Poetry, Picture Books, Science, Nonfiction, Childrens, Nature

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Lisa Westberg Peters is a children's author and poet from St. Paul, Minnesota. Her books often have a scientific focus.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Told in poems from alternating points-of-view (a fern, a cricket, the sun and moon, the small black road, and the volcano itself), this book tells the story of a volcano that decides to erupt. It was confusing and meandering and I will not be using it in story time.

[Ruth Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

From five viewpoints (a fern, a cricket, the sun and moon, the small black road, and the volcano itself) we learn about what happens when a volcano becomes active. The illustrations are colorful collage with great dimension.

Jenkins shares that he enjoyed visiting volcanoes in Hawaii and in this book he is writing about a fictitious volcano based on those he visited,

More in depth information can be found at the end of the picture book, in the author's note, and at the suggested web sites.

[Liam's Mama · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much info not at a level for young kids to understand

[Rolf · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting idea that I don't think really works in execution. Each of the critters/parts of the environment speaks in a different way (some speak poetically, some speak in text message shorthand, some speak through road signs, etc.), in a way that was kind of jarring and hard to follow for both me and my kids.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a series of poems surrounding the eruption of a volcano told from multiple points of view. The points of view repeat themselves throughout. I was particularly fond of the crickets that were attempting to find one another on the volcano throughout the day. Clever presentation.

[Hannah Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has text language and road signs in it. I loved it!

[Gillie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't usually read picturebooks unless they're to my siblings, but I really liked the different voices in it, and I thought I'd give it a try.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book of poems follows a day on a an imaginary Hawaiian volcano. All of the creatures on the volcano know that something is about to happen, from the lava flow crickets to the ferns. Even the sun and the volcano itself have poems from their perspective. Young readers will enjoy the tension as it mounts towards the eruption and then the drama and intensity of the eruption itself.

Peter’s poetry ranges through a variety of different styles in the book. Each different voice has its own poetic form. The volcano’s verse is shaped like a mountain. The have a curling but upright form. There are poems told in road signs and then the crickets speak in texts. It is a very clever device that will have children eager to move to the next poem because of the interesting and changing nature of the verse itself.

Jenkins’ illustrations are as gorgeous as always. Done in cut-paper collage, they perfectly capture the changing nature of the day. Some illustrations are crisp and clear, with detailed crickets and ferns. Others are landscapes with mists and mountains that are soft and evocative. Simply lovely.

A perfect marriage of science, poetry and art, this book will be adored by volcano fans and poetry fans alike. Appropriate for ages 6-9.

[Christine Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playful, kid-friendly poems from five alternating points of view explore the volcanic process and its effect on the surrounding land, flora, and fauna. From the lava crickets to the ferns, everyone has something to say about it! Follow one day--from sunrise to moonrise--on the slopes of a young, about-to-shout volcano.
Science-loving kids will get a kick out of this fun look at an erupting volcano, and the creative poems offer something for everyone.

Notes
Lisa Westberg Peters is the award-winning author of many books for children, including the best-seller The Sun, the Wind and the Rain . She lives in Minneapolis with her husband.

Steve Jenkins is the acclaimed illustrator of Vulture View and the Caldecott Honor book What Do You Do With a Tail Like This ? He lives in Boulder, Colorado, with his wife and frequent collaborator, Robin Page, and their three children.


Juv 811.54 Pet

[Kaley Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal reaction- I thought this book was a good way to talk about volcanoes. It puts the process into simpler terms which I think will help give the students an idea of what to do. I wasn't a fan of the way some of the book was written, but I think that the meaning of the book will come out underneath the weird writing. The book was interesting and I was kept engaged, but some of the book did not seem the most educational.

Purposes
Read aloud for enrichment
-This book has great vocabulary which will help students think about volcanoes in an easier way to understand.
-The illustrations help make the processes of the volcano very clear and students would be able to recreate what they had heard.
Read aloud for academic purposes
-an introduction to a unit on volcanoes
-The students could draw a volcano and explain things that are happening in or around it.
-Students could retell what they heard from the book and make a time line of events for the volcano and the ferns.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book of poems, repeating over the course of a day, with each element (the volcano, the cricket, the sun and moon, and the road signs) having its own unique format and style. It's an interesting way to see the volcanic eruptions from different perspectives. And the author's notes at the back are very informative and shed light on the meanings behind some of the verse. Our girls liked to read the times of the day, written as the first letter of each line in the sun and moon sections.

The author offers links to find out more about the active volcanos on the big island of Hawaii at hvo.wr.usgs.gov and www.nps.gov/havo

[Autumn Yoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does a great job integrating science and poetry. The story follows the perspective of the environment which is interesting for students to read about. The illustrations are engaging and beautiful, and because it involves volcanoes, most children would find it fascinating!

This would be a great story to use before doing a science lesson on landforms and land features, and volcanoes. Great for grades K-2nd.

[Melissa Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This unique book offers dynamic, fact-filled poems from five points of view. We learn how critters such as ferms and lava crickets experience an eruption, adn alos hear from a roadway and the sun/moon--as well as the volcano itself. Creative and engaging, this book provides a fresh and fascinating look at volcanoes and the effect of their activity on the surrounding wildlife and landscape.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I pretty much have to pick up anything Steve Jenkins touches ... love his collage art! Would love to see/touch some of the works in progress. Will have to make do with looking at the different textures.

I liked many of the poems in this book. I think the construction signs were my favorite. "Darn! This active volcano is always under construction."

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

A picture book format of poetry books about volcanoes in Hawaii.

[The Library Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

The fabulous as ever art by Steve Jenkins makes me give this book a 3 rather than a 2. And it may help hold the attention of younger children who will be indifferent to the text.

[Natalie Schmitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be great to read when discussing land forms. This book is unique because of the poetry integrated throughout.

[Valerie Midkiff]

Book of poems on the day in the life of a volcano and it's effects on the land, flora and fauna. Cute!

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mix of poems, with various points of view, describing the processes from dormancy to eruption. A little too cerebral/ metaphorical for my kids.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pair with a study of volcanos.

[Jonathan Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My youngest really enjoyed this book: "First the volcano was napping, but then it woke up and exploded lots of places... I give it fifteen stars."

[Horace Mann Family Reading Challenge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells a poem about a volcano about to erupt. J.R.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The pictures are neat. I found the book too much to use for story time.