Rocks, Minerals & Gems: The Definitive Visual Catalog of the Treasure Beneath Your Feet

by Sean Callery, Miranda Smith, Scholastic Inc.

In Rocks, Minerals, and Gems, readers will learn about hundreds of rocks, minerals, crystals, and gems that were forged by the most powerful events in prehistory. Explore what specimens look like and how they're used today--readers can use the information to identify rocks and minerals themselves and open up a spectacular new world.

Find out all about star stones and cat's eyes, megagems, and phantom quartz. Discover which rocks fluoresce, which mineral once poisoned an emperor, and which gems are the rarest in the world!

Features a beautiful cover with special effects!

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Gemstones, Geology, Reference, Education, Middle Grade

224 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2016

Reviews

[Carlos Cabada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rocks Minerals & Gems by Scholastic Ink is a really good book for learning about rocks and gems. If your thinking of this as your future career I highly recommend you to read this book carefully. I really like this book because it shows many different rocks and it even shows your birth stone. As you can see this book to me is a really good book so I recommend you to read it to!

[Cristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the definitive visual catalog of rocks, minerals, and gems. The photographs are bright and true to life. Different minerals and what compound are discussed for each one. I would recommend this for any collection. Children will gravitate towards this edition.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read for kids or adults like me that don't know much about rocks, minerals, and gems and looking to know more. It was a good introduction but leaves a lot let to learn and leaves a lot of the more rare stones out.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doesn't cover a wide range, but is a great introduction. Great photos, good organization, fun factoids and historical tie ins are all pluses.

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing!!! explains every one rock that i know!!

[Elina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childhood favorite

[UseHerName · Rating 3 out of 5]

According to Goodreads, the coauthors here are Sean Callery and Miranda Smith. But the front copy had Jordan D. Browne as the writer instead.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stunning text for libraries, classrooms, and homes. Each page includes beautiful, full color photos of various rocks, minerals, and gemstones in varying degrees of formation. Text boxes and captions include information about the rock, mineral, or gem presented on the page including, but not limited to, formation information, usage (historic and present), varying degrees found in nature, location, general information, such as group, formula, color, form, luster, etc., and fun facts. For instance, did you know that “[m]any objects are misnamed and the Emerald Buddha [...] is carved from jade” (165) or “[c]innabar is the chief ore of mercury” (83). This is a must-have text (and an affordable one) for anyone with children (or an inquisitive mind). I absolutely love this book!

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

ROCKS MINERALS & GEMS by Sean Callery and Miranda Smith contains over 1,000 examples of amazing geologic features to explore.

Designed for the middle grades, this photo-rich informational book features major sections on minerals, rocks, and gems. After a gallery to kickoff the section, each two-page spread explores a particular item such as copper or limestone. In some cases, the pages provide in-depth scientific information along with popular examples. Throughout the book, the author has woven in fascinating stories set in locations around the world. The book concludes with a glossary and index.

Librarians will find that young people enjoy browsing this book as well as using it as a reference work.

Published by Scholastic on July 26, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars. Silver letters and shiny gems and minerals decorate the cover of this addictive educational volume. The large, square format gives plenty of room for the thousands of gorgeous photographs. Three two-page spreads introduce rocks, minerals and gems: defining terms and offering a broad overview. Substantive chapters on each of the three topics follow. The sections are rich with double-page spreads that explore many thoughtfully chosen examples: providing photos, standardized lists of facts, fascinating history and scientific details. Pigeons get navigational abilities from tiny bits of magnetite embedded in their beaks and copper based bloods carry oxygen more efficiently! A conversational tone, large clear type, plenty of sidebars, handsome design and a sewn, flexible binding make the book a pleasure to peruse. While a glossary and index are included, some terms, including many subheadings, are not defined. While this won’t bother those with easy Internet access, ‘transition metal’ and the difference between ‘ides’ and ‘ates’ should have been covered.

[Teresa Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I consider myself a wannabe rock hound. I have been fascinated by rocks since a child, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. This book is a rock lovers dream! The first pages describe the details and differences of rocks, minerals and gems. The pages following highlight some of the stars, both known and perhaps unknown, from these three categories. For each item, there are photos, details, facts (such as hardness scale, colors, locations found, etc) and unusual tidbits. You could literally spend all day reading this book. One of my favorites is Gneiss. It is the oldest-known rock on the planet and it is what the Washington Monument is made of! Gary Ombler's photos are spectacular! I do wish there had been a pronunciation guide, but other than that, this book is "rock solid". ;-)