Into the Volcano: A Volcano Researcher at Work

by Donna O'Meara

In a helicopter with no doors, she hovers over a lava lake the size of two football fields -- then lands! She runs through clouds of scalding steam, dodging lava bombs, to photograph glowing hot lava as it pours into the sea. She sets up camp on the edge of a volcano's cone, only to be hit with hurricane-force winds, poisonous gases and acidic ash. Witness a typical day in the life of Donna O'Meara -- volcano researcher, writer and photographer. Donna's photographs and accounts of treacherous journeys get readers up close and personal with some of the world's most dangerous volcanoes.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Nature

56 pages, Hardcover

First published February 10, 2005

About the author

Donna O'Meara has been hunting and photographing the world's most dangerous volcanoes for almost 20 years. Many of her photographs have appeared in National Geographic.

Reviews

[grace kt]

again for the 5th graders. this was pretty good

[Holly Keimig]

A good introduction of volcanoes for older kids. Full of photographs and fun facts, as well as personal anecdotes of bravery. I recommend this to any future volcanologists!

[L.A.]

Too much for a kindergarten audience, but we read chunks here and there and enjoyed all the pictures. A good intro to revisit later.

[MaryMargaret Norton]

This was a cool read. It reminds me of the Scientist in the Field books. I am going to use this one for school. Have notes and everything set up. Just need to build the online journal.

[Angela]

Author: Donna O'Meara
Grade Level: 4-5
Content: Volcanoes


This book is a factual book about the author who actually conducted a research on volcanoes. The author is a volcano researcher and the book provides real pictures and facts about her journey to the volcano. This book also provides the reader with facts on how volcanoes form and incorporates different vocabulary words throughout.

[Amanda]

O’Meara details her life as a volcanologist, starting with her childhood and through her most harrowing experiences with volcanoes. She includes photographs and sidebars with reinforcing information, such as volcano statistics and other researchers. Dramatic photos of the author next to lava flows and at the tops of volcanoes heighten the suspense of the narratives.