Little Kids First Big Book of Rocks, Minerals & Shells

by Moira Rose Donohue

Get ready to be dazzled! This reference book for the younger set introduces a variety of Earth’s rocks, minerals, gemstones, fossils, and shells--from granite to gold, marble to malachite, and conchs to clams.

Discover how rocks are formed, the three kinds of rocks, and the difference between rocks and minerals. Learn how rocks and minerals are used in art, architecture, industry, and science. Then journey to the oceans to explore seashells and the amazing animals that once inhabited them. Packed with more than 200 photos, including closeups of each specimen, this book showcases natural sites such as the Giant’s Causeway and human-built structures such as the Great Wall of China.

Genres: Science, Picture Books, Nonfiction, Nature, Geology, Education, Childrens

128 pages, Hardcover

Published July 13, 2021

About the author

I am originally from New York City. But now I hang out in St. Petersburg, FL with my dog Sherlock. I began writing for children after my defection from law. Since then, I have had over 40 books published. Most of what I write is nonfiction. Why? Because I love learning about new things--like animals, history and people!

My most recent release is 5-Minute Dinosaur Stories from National Geographic (2024), and I have a book about European immigration slated for a 2025 release. Tapping Feet: How Two Cultures Came Together to Make an American Dance (Reycraft Books, 2023) was awarded the 2023 Florida Book Award Bronze Medal for Older Children’s Literature and my picture book, Stompin’ at the Savoy: How Chick Webb Became the King of Drums (Sleeping Bear Press, 2021), won the 2021 Florida Book Award Silver Medal for Young Children’s Literature. Several of my other titles have received starred reviews.

I love hockey, tap dancing, old movies, and dogs. And I love to hear from young readers and writers! Please visit my website for writer tips and my availability for my school visits. I am represented by Jennifer Unter of The Unter Agency.

Reviews

[Stacie]

This new addition to the popular Little Kids First Big Book series focuses on rocks, minerals, and shells. What little kid doesn’t love rocks? I think each one of our kids loved picking up rocks whether we were in a park or in our own landscaping. They also loved collecting shells on our visits to the various beaches. This book teaches young readers about the wide variety of rocks, minerals, fossils, gemstones, and shells.

Some of the rocks and shells our family has collected
Kids will learn that many of our rocks come from erupting volcanoes. They will learn the type of rock it is, how hard or soft it is, where it can be found, and its uses today. Obviously, the pages are full of photographs, but there are also fact bubbles, information boxes, and interactive questions to get kids thinking outside the box. At the end of each section, there is a fun quiz to see what they remembered learning. The end of the book includes tips and activities parents can do with their kids to learn even more.

Fossils are one of the rocks featured in the book. Since I grew up with a river in our backyard, we have found several fossils. We even found a nearly perfect fish-head fossil that I thought was pretty cool as a kid.

Sulfur is another featured mineral. We saw lots of sulfur, and smelled it, on our visit to Yellowstone.

Marble is what was used to make the Taj Mahal. What I didn’t know is that it took 21 years and 20,000 workers to build it.

The state rock of Iowa is a geode. A geode is a rock with the mineral quartz on the inside. They are very pretty once you break them open. Otherwise, they just look like a regular rock.

With just a few weeks of summer left, I encourage you to take your kids outside to a beach, lake, riverbank, or mountainous area and look for all different kinds of rocks, minerals, or shells. Then use the activities in the book to help your kids learn about them. Plus you can start your own collection as we have.

[K.L. Bernard]

This beginner books from National Geographic Kids introduces young readers, who love geology, to the world of rocks, minerals and shells. Amazing photos, interactive questions, fun facts, a glossary and bits of tips for parents will keep kids engaged.

The four chapters in this guide teach kids what rocks and shells are and minerals too. Kids can learn about which famous buildings are made of rocks and the types. There are specific uses for minerals and readers will explore some of their common uses. Some rocks when polished become gemstones and there are sections on seashells that been the homes for some animals.

This handy guide is perfect for peeking the interest of young rock and seashell enthusiasts. Learning the rock cycle will help readers better understand more about earth, lava, and how rocks were used to build things like the pyramids. Parents and teachers can use this guide to answer questions and get readers engaged with learning about their world.

[Marion]

Although I have a small collection of shells, to me, rocks and minerals are the least interesting topics in the world. Still, this book made it interesting and compelling and turned a dull topic into a fascinating scavenger hunt in the world of minerals. Did it change my mind About the topic? No, I made up my mind when I had to teach the rock cycle to third graders. But it could spark an interest in children through beautiful photos and colorful illustrations, connections with the real world.
After all, this book was written for children, and it takes a complicated topic to break it down into more absorbable grains...
Much of that book's content knowledge reminded me of what I taught for years: how to test hardiness and describe a rock or mineral.
I never realized that shells were exoskeletons on mollusks and reptiles.
Now, I want to know what types of shells I have in my collection.
I liked that book. I began drawing seashells in a nature journal.

[Becky B]

A survey of the types of rock, minerals (including the gemstones they form), and various types of mollusks and the shells they form.

National Geographic Kids definitely knows how to create attractive books for kids. There are interactive questions throughout, activity ideas in the back, and eye-catching photographs all throughout. It would be good to warn kids as they are reading this that a lot of the really old dates they mention for length of time it takes things to form or how old fossils are are based on scientists' theories and those numbers are up for debate and can change. (For example, they say in this book that the oldest dinosaur fossil is 231 million years old but do a Google search on oldest dinosaur fossil and you get answers that range from 140 million to 243 million - all from what would be considered reputable, fairly recent sources.)

[Elizabeth Reid]

While this book claims it's for ages 4-8, my 13-year-old has said it is one of his favorite books ever. And I think I agree with him. Jam-packed with amazing color photographs, Rocks, Minerals, and Shells also does a fantastic job teaching about the different kinds of things that make up our earth in a highly engaging fashion. I now want to visit a mosque in Iran, to see the turquoise there, Northern Ireland's Giant's Causeway, to see the basalt columns, and the western Pacific Ocean, to try to find a Chambered Nautilus in the wild....
Read my full review here: http://agoodreid.blogspot.com/2021/08...

[Vera Godley]

A new "Little Kids First Big Book" loaded with fascinating information. This time it's all about the "hard things on Earth" - Rocks, Minerals, and Shells. There is so much to explore in this book. Children can see the mundane as well as the exotic types of minerals and rocks along with the beauty of shells along the seashore.

A good book to include for homes and libraries everywhere.

I received a complimentary copy to facilitate a review. Opinions are mine and are freely given.

[Andrea]

Very comprehensive! Love the questions included to encourage connections and deeper thinking. Kids will enjoy poring over this book to study the enormous variety of rocks and all the different objects rocks can become. It was interesting that sea shells are also included. I predict this book will be the start of many pocket collections!

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit)]

A very useful book full of everything you need to know about rocks, minerals, and shells, with full-spread pages for many of each!

This has been our favorite book on rocks and minerals so far. The photos and colors are gorgeous!

[Heather Burdette Quinn]

My just-turned-six-year-old has loved the other books we've read from this series, and I was hoping this volume would tap into his Minecraft obsession - success! He really enjoyed learning about all the rocks and minerals from his favorite game that are "for real life," too.

[Kim]

As our Rock/Gem/Minerals unit study comes to end, my son has grown more fascinated with rocks. This book has fascinating facts, brightly colored photos, and fun activities.

[PottWab Regional Library]

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[Beckie]

I got this book for my grandkids and love it so much. I live by the ocean and find myself examining every shell and rock since reading this book with increased interest and knowledge. I especially loved learning about the amazing and diverse sea creatures who live in such beautiful shells. Thank you Ms. Donohue and National Geographic for such a fun, informative book. And the photos are stunning!

[Two BookWorms Blog]

With lots to read about and extra activities to reinforce learning, this is a book for the resource shelf. Kids will come back to it again and again.

For the full review: https://twobookwormsblog.wordpress.co...