Wonder World: Earth: The Natural Science of Soil

Gr 2-5–A pair of children, no names, one with light skin and one with dark, delivers to readers a primer of everything there is to know about soil. Starting with the Earth’s inner core and working out from there, it’s all here. How soil changes in different ecosystems; which creepy-crawlies live in the soil and who eats them (hello, food chain); what animals live mostly underground; what things in the soil can be seen with the naked eye; and what a microscope can see. Readers learn how the roots in a forest interact with fungi to create a network to provide nutrients, and maybe even share messages. Of course, there is the cycle of decomposition (only plant matter is mentioned) that creates soil and the ability to grow crops we need to survive, but that’s not all. It absorbs carbon dioxide, supports buildings, soaks up rain and helps clean the water. The author makes a compelling case for why soil is “a muddy, magical, marvelous miracle.” Lerwill’s informal text is accessible and just the right amount of varying fonts and type placements keep readers engaged. Le’s illustrations with their bold colors, attention to detail, and occasional use of panels provide an excellent as well as fun visualization of the ideas within.