Books to Read
Books to Read
If you like to read about the world and space, you’ll find a wide
variety of books to read and enjoy. A few of them are fisted below. Your
school or your public library will have many others.
Ages 5 to 8
Air Is All Around You Revised Edition by Franklyn M. Branley
(Crowell, 1986)
You can’t see it, but ah’ is everywhere, even in some places that will
surprise you.
The Big Dipper and You by E. C.
Krupp (Morrow, 1989)
If you ride in a spaceship that travels as fast as the Voyager, it
would take you 10 billion years to get to the Big Dipper.
This book will get you there much faster.
Comets by Ruth Radlauer and Charles
H. Stembridge, Ph.D. (Childrens Press, 1984)
What are comets? Where do they come from? This book is full of
astounding information.
The Great Lakes by Kathy Henderson (Childrens Press, 1989)
Did you know that more standing fresh water can be found in the Great
Lakes than anywhere else in the world? That’s one-fifth of all the
earth’s standing fresh water. Read this book to find out more about the
five Great Lakes.
The Magic School Bus Inside the
Earth by Joanna Cole (Scholastic, 1987) The magic school bus goes on
a field trip inside the earth. Ride along to learn how the earth formed
and find out about different kinds of rocks.
Mars by Seymour Simon (Morrow, 1987) Read about and see amazing
photographs of the earth’s closest neighbors in the solar system. You
can also find books about other planets and the sun by the same author.
One Day in the Desert by Jean
Craighead George (Crowell, 1983) Deserts are dry; deserts are sandy;
deserts can be very hot and very cold. How do plants and animals live
there? Read about daily life in the desert in this book.
My Place in Space by Robin and Sally Hirst (Orchard Books, 1988)
In this picture book, Henry and his sister Rosie ride the bus home. The
bus driver asks Henry if he knows where he lives. Henry knows more than
his address; he knows the exact location in the universe.
The Sun: Our Neighborhood Star by
David J. Darling (Dillon Press, 1984) This book answers questions that
you might have about the sun and its connection to the earth. It also
tells when the eclipses of the sun occur from 1984 to 1999.
Why Doesn’t the Earth Fall Up? by Vicki Cobb (Lodestar, 1989)
Find out how the force of gravity keeps things on earth from floating
off into space.
Ages 9 to 12
The Arctic and Antarctic by Cass R.
Sandak (Franklin Watts, 1987)
Explore the polar regions at the top and bottom of the earth, around the
North and South poles.
Earthquakes: Nature in Motion by Hershell H. Nixon and Joan Lowery
Nixon (Dodd, Mead, 1981)
Discover why the earth quakes, the signals we look for to predict
earthquakes, and even how we might “turn them off”!
Earth Songs by Myra Cohn Livingston (Holiday, 1986)
These poems celebrate the earth—its continents, hills, forests, and
seas. They are enhanced by Leonard Everett Fisher’s beautiful paintings.
Also, look for Space Songs by the same author.
50 Simple Things Kids Can Do to Save the Earth by The Earth Works
Group (Andrews & McMeel, 1990)
Learn what you can do to make the earth a healthy place for people
everywhere.
The Galaxies by David Darling (Dillon, 1985)
This book tells what galaxies are and how they were formed.
How Did We Find Out About Volcanoes? by Isaac Asimov (Walker, 1981)
The author tells how people have viewed volcanoes from ancient times to
the present. He even tells about volcanoes that are not on earth.
Mountains by Keith Lye (Silver Burdett, 1986)
Are all mountains alike? How are they formed? Do they ever change? You
may be surprised by the answers to these and other questions.
Mountains and Earth Movement by Ian Bain (Bookwright Press, 1984)
Learn why the earth moves and what happens when parts of the earth move.
My First Book of Space by Robert A.
Bell (Simon & Schuster, 1985)
This informative book about our universe is illustrated with NASA
photographs and art.
101 Questions and Answers About the Universe by Roy A. Gallant
(Macmillan, 1984)
As the director of a planetarium, the author spent a lot of time talking
to children. In this book, he answers questions that children have asked
him most frequently.
Satellites and Space Stations by Moira
Butterfield (London, Usborne, 1985) Satellites play a vital role in
world communications, astronomy, and many other areas. Learn what space
stations are and how people work and live in them.
Science Activities for Children by
Willard J. Jacobson and Abby B.
Bergman (Prentice-Hall, 1983)
These activities are a fun way to help you understand some important
ideas in science. Several chapters contain activities related to our
world and space.
Solids, Liquids and Gases: From Superconductors to the Ozone Layer
by Melvin Berger (Putnam, 1989)
Gain a deeper understanding of the three forms of matter by performing
scientific experiments.
Space Laboratories by Gregory Vogt (Franklin Watts, 1987)
Laboratories in space help us understand our universe. Learn about past,
present, and future space laboratories.
New Words
Here are some of the words you have met in this book. Many of them may
be new to you. Others are just hard to pronounce. Since you’ll see them
again, they’re good words to know. Next to each word you will see how to
say the word: ammonia (uh MOHN yuh). The part shown in capital letters
is said a little more loudly than the rest of the word. Under each word
are one or two sentences that tell what the word means.
ammonia (uh MOHN yuh)
Ammonia is a colorless gas. It is often dissolved in water and used for
cleaning.
anemometer (an uh MAHM uh tuhr)
An anemometer is an instrument that measures the speed of the wind.
asteroid (AS tuh royd)
An asteroid is one of many small planets that revolve around the sun.
astrophysicist (as troh FIHZ uh sihst)
An astronomer who studies the physical and chemical characteristics of
planets and stars is called an astrophysicist.
atmosphere (AT muh sfihr)
The atmosphere is all the air that surrounds the earth.
aurora australis
(aw RAWR uh aw STRAY lihs)
The aurora australis is bands of light in the night sky in the Southern
Hemisphere.
aurora borealis
(aw RAWR uh bawr ee AL ihs)
The aurora borealis is bands of light in the night sky in the Northern
Hemisphere.
azurite (AZH yuh ryt)
Azurite is a copper mineral that has a blue color. It is used for
jewelry.
basalt (BAS awlt or buh SAWLT) Basalt is a dark-colored rock that
was once red-hot lava.
bauxite (BAWK syte or BOH zyt)
Bauxite is a brownish or grayish mineral. Its ore is the chief source of
aluminum.
calcite (KAL syt)
Calcite is a mineral. It is the chief substance in limestone, chalk, and
marble.
carbon dioxide
[(kahr]{.smallcaps} buhn dy [ahk]{.smallcaps} syd)
Carbon dioxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is in the earth’s
atmosphere.
carnotite (KAHR nuh tyt)
Carnotite is a yellow-colored, powdery, radioactive mineral that is one
of the sources of uranium.
cartographer (kahr TAHG ruh fuhr)
A person who makes maps or charts is called a cartographer.
cassiterite (kuh SIHT uh ryt)
Cassiterite is a mineral ore. It is the chief source of tin.
chromium (KROH mee uhm)
Chromium is a shiny, gray metal that does not rust.
cinnabar (SIHN uh bahr)
Cinnabar is a mineral. It is the chief source of mercury.
cirrocumulus (sihr oh KYOO myuh luhs) Cirrocumulus clouds are rows
of small, fleecy, white clouds, often called a “mackerel sky.”
cirrus (SIHR uhs)
A cirrus cloud is a thin, fleecy, white cloud of ice crystals that forms
at a high altitude.
cobalt (KOH bawlt)
Cobalt is a metal often found with nickel and copper.
comet (KAHM iht)
A comet is a bright object in space. It looks like a star with a tail.
condensation trail
(kahn dehn SAY shuhn trayl)
A condensation trail, or contrail, is a stream of water droplets or ice
crystals that can be seen forming behind highflying aircraft in the
upper atmosphere.
constellation (kahn stuh LAY shuhn) A constellation is a group of
stars that appears to have special shape when viewed from the earth.
corundum (kuh RUHN duhm)
Corundum is a very hard mineral. Rubies and sapphires are kinds of
corundum.
Crux (kruhks)
Crux, a Latin word that means “cross,” is a constellation in the
Southern Hemisphere. It is usually called the Southern Cross.
crystal (KRIHS tuhl)
A crystal is something that has hardened into a shape that has smooth,
flat surfaces that meet in sharp edges and corners.
cumulonimbus
(kyoo myuh loh NIHM buhs) Cumulonimbus is a heavy cloud mass with high
peaks; a thundercloud.
cumulus (KYOO myuh luhs)
A cumulus cloud has a rounded top and a flat bottom. It is usually seen
in fair weather.
detail (dih TAYL or DEE tayl)
A detail is a picture of a small part of something. It is sometimes
shown larger than the whole thing.
diatom (DY uh tahm)
A diatom is a tiny water plant.
erosion (ih ROH zhuhn)
Erosion is the slow wearing away of soil or rock.
fluorite (FLOO uh ryt)
Fluorite is a mineral with a glassy luster.
fossil (FAHS uhl)
A fossil is the remains or traces of an animal or plant that lived long
ago. A fossil may be a footprint, a bone, or the outline of a leaf.
gauge (gayj)
A gauge is a measuring instrument. Geiger counter (GY guhr KOWN
tuhr)
The Geiger counter is an instrument that detects radioactivity.
geyser (GY zuhr or GY suhr)
A geyser is a spring that shoots up hot water and steam.
glacier (GLAY shuhr)
A glacier is a huge mass of gritty ice that slides slowly over the land.
graphite (GRAF yt)
Graphite is a soft, black mineral used with clay to make the “lead” for
pencils.
halite (HAL yt or HAY lyt)
Common table salt is the mineral called halite.
hematite (HEHM uh tyt or HEE muh tyt) Hematite is iron ore that is
sometimes called blood ironstone because of its red color.
igneous (IHG nee uhs)
Rock that was formed when it was heated to a liquid state is called
igneous rock. See also metamorphic; sedimentary.
indigo (IHN duh goh)
Indigo is a deep violet-blue color, magma (MAG muh)
Magma is the hot, melted rock beneath the earth’s crust.
malachite (MAL uh kyt)
Malachite is a green mineral, meridian (muh RIHD ee uhn)
A meridian is an imaginary line around the earth. Meridians meet at the
North and South poles. We use meridians to measure distance east or
west. See also parallel.
metamorphic (meht uh MAWR fihk) Metamorphic means changed. A
metamorphic rock is one that has been changed by heat and pressure. See
also igneous; sedimentary.
meteor (MEE tee uhr)
A meteor is a chunk of metal or stone (a meteoroid) that has entered the
earth’s atmosphere from outer space and is burning up from friction. It
is often called a shooting star.
meteorite (MEE tee uh ryt)
A meteorite is a meteor that has reached the earth without burning up.
meteoroid (MEE tee uh roihd)
A meteoroid is a chunk of rock that is moving through space.
meteorologist (mee tee uh RAHL uh jihst) A meteorologist is a person
who studies the atmosphere and its effect on weather.
molecule (MAHL uh kyool)
A molecule is the tiniest part into which any substance, such as water,
can be divided without changing into something else.
nebula (NEHB yuh luh)
A nebula is a huge cloud of gas or dust in space.
nimbostratus (nihm boh STRAY tuhs) Nimbostratus is a low, dark-gray
layer of rain or snow clouds.
nitrogen (NY truh juhn)
Nitrogen is a gas that has no color, odor, or taste. It makes up almost
80 per cent of the air we breathe.
obsidian (ahb SIHD ee uhn)
Obsidian is a hard, dark, glassy rock that forms when lava cools.
oceanographer
(oh shuh NAHG ruh fuhr)
A person who studies the ocean and the different kinds of ocean life is
called an oceanographer.
paleontologist
(pay lee ahn TAHL uh jihst) A paleontologist is a person who studies the
plants and animals of long ago.
parallel (PAR uh lehl)
Lines that are parallel are the same distance apart everywhere.
The imaginary lines circling the earth above and below the equator are
called parallels. We use these parallels to measure distance north or
south. See also meridian.
patina (PAT uh nuh)
Patina is a coating often found on the surface of old bronze or copper,
petrified (PEHT ruh fyd)
Something that is petrified has been changed into stone.
petroleum (puh TROH lee uhm) Petroleum is a dark, oily liquid found
in the earth. Gasoline and oil are made from petroleum.
Polaris (poh LAIR ihs)
Polaris, the North Star, is in the northern constellation Ursa Minor,
usually called the Little Dipper. Polaris is above the North Pole. It is
used in the Northern Hemisphere to find north.
pulsar (PUHL sahr)
A pulsar is a very tiny star that sends out short, regular bursts of
radio waves.
pyrite (PY ryt)
Pyrite is a yellow mineral that looks like gold.
quadruplet (KWAHD roo pliht) A quadruplet is any group or
combination of four.
quartz (kwawrts)
Quartz is a very hard mineral, refinery (rih FY nuhr ee)
A refinery is a place where metal, petroleum, or sugar is made as pure
as possible.
saltpeter (sawlt PEE tuhr)
Saltpeter is a salty, white mineral used in making gunpowder.
satellite (SAT uh lyt)
A satellite is a natural or artificial object that revolves around a
planet.
sedimentary (sehd uh MEHN tuhr ee) Anything that is sedimentary is
made from sediment—small bits of matter left by water, wind, or ice.
Rocks formed from minerals that settle in this way are sedimentary
rocks. See also igneous; metamorphic.
seismograph (SYZ muh graf)
A seismograph is an instrument that measures and records movements in
the earth, especially earthquakes.
seismologist (syz MAHL uh jihst) A seismologist is a person who
studies earthquakes and other movements of the earth.
selenite (SEHL uh nyt)
Selenite is a form of the mineral gypsum. It is used in making plaster
and cement.
sonar (SOH nahr)
Sonar is an instrument that uses sound waves to find the direction and
distance of objects under water.
speleologist (spee lee AHL uh jihst) A speleologist is a person
skilled in the study of caves.
stalactite (stuh LAK tyt)
A stalactite is an icicle-shaped deposit of calcite hanging from the
roof or sides of a cave.
stalagmite (stuh LAG myt)
A stalagmite is a deposit of calcite forming a stone column that rises
up from the floor of a cave.
titanium (ty TAY nee uhm)
Titanium is a metal used in making steel.
turquoise (TUR koyz or TUR kwoyz) Turquoise is a blue-to-green
gemstone.
uranium (yu RAY nee uhm)
Uranium is a radioactive metal, volcanologist
(vahl kuhn NAHL uh jihst)
A scientist who studies volcanoes
is called a volcanologist.
wulfenite (WUL fuh nyt)
Wulfenite is a mineral that contains a metal used in making steel.
zircon (ZUR kahn)
Zircon is a mineral often used as a gem.
