Danger! Earthquakes by Seymour Simon, 2002, SeaStar Books.
In this issue of Spigot, you learn about the Richter Scale and the Mercalli Scale to measure the power of earthquakes and the damage they do.  There are about one million earthquakes around the world each year.  Luckily we don‘t feel most of them. Nearly 35,000 happen in California. But Alaska is the state with the most earthquakes.

Tsunamis and Floods by Jayne Keedle, 2009, Gareth Stevens Publishing.
Over 200,000 people were killed in the deadliest tsunami in history.  It happened in December 2004 in the Indian Ocean.  Look at a map to find the eleven countries that surround this ocean.  Find out how tsunamis are formed.  Read about the floods caused by Hurricane Katrina in the U.S. Gulf Coast.  Learn about other famous floods from Johnstown, PA. to Bangladesh.

Plate Tectonics; Earth’s Moving Crust by Darlene R. Stille, 2007, Compass Point Books.
To learn about plate tectonics, you‘ll have to take a journey to the center of the Earth.  Slabs of rock in the Earth‘s mantle are called tectonic plates.  Movement of these plates creates mountains and lakes.  It also causes earthquakes and volcanoes.  Read about a scientist, Alfred Wegener, and his theory of continental drift.  Make a model of the continents before and after the drift.

Our Patchwork Planet; The Story of Plate Tectonics by Helen Roney Sattler, 1995, Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books.
Tectonic plates carry the continents and oceans almost like a turtle carries its shell. Under the Pacific Ocean, several tectonic plates interact.  Scientists call this area the Ring of Fire because many volcanoes and earthquakes happen there.  Tectonic movements can also be positive.  They are responsible for much of the mineral, gas, and oil deposits on Earth.

Erosion; How Land Forms, How it Changes by Darlene R. Stille, 2005, Compass Point Books.

Erosion can be caused by big things like wind, water, and glaciers.  It can also be caused by small things like worms, insects, and snakes that loosen soil.  Some scientists think there‘s evidence of erosion on Mars.  You can search for signs of erosion in your own backyard.  You might even find a fossil that‘s been uncovered by erosion.

Earth Matters Consultant editor David de Rothschild, 2008, DK Publishing.
We know the Earth is always changing.  Some of the changes are good.  Many of them are not.  Read about the Earth from its very beginning.  Learn about helping the Earth in this encyclopedia of ecology.  Find out what you can do to make a difference wherever you live.  Remember, Earth Matters!

1000 Facts on Planet Earth by John Farndon, 2002, Barnes & Noble.

Read the fast facts about earthquakes, epicenters, erosion, and eruptions.  Discover what causes faults, floods, and fossils.  Find out about glaciers and global warming.  Learn about tectonic plates, tornadoes, and tsunamis.  That‘s only the beginning of these 1000 facts!

Volcanologists; Life Exploring Volcanoes by Chris Hayhurst, 2003, The Rosen Publishing Group.
Besides reading about volcanoes, earthquakes, and other forces like erosion, you might want to do a few experiments on your own.  Try mapping the ocean floor in your living room.  Create tectonic plates with a small tray of mud.  Make a tiltmeter that a volcanologist might use.  Or build your own erupting volcano.

Shake, Rattle, and Roll; The World’s Most Amazing Volcanoes, Earthquakes, and Other Forces by Spencer Christian & Antonia Felix, 1997, John Wiley &  Sons.
It might be “cool” to have the “hot” job of a volcanologist.  You could travel all over the world studying the way volcanoes work.  You could help predict future volcanic eruptions and help to save many lives.  Volcanologists have to be very careful.  They need to plan an escape route and carry special safety equipment.  If you‘re interested in volcanoes, maybe this extreme career is for you.