'This trim overview gives young readers an excellent grounding on volcanoes in an efficient few words. There [is] a succinct and easily readable explanation of how volcanoes are caused by magma pushing up between (or through) moving plates in the Earth's crust. Then comes a pair of snappy maps, with bright little bursts of color denoting the Pacific Ring of Fire and other volcano locations throughout the world.' 'K.

1985 Best of the Season (Science Books and Films)

Franklyn M. Branley was the originator of the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series and the author of close to 150 popular books about scientific topics for young readers of all ages. He was Astronomer Emeritus and former Chairman of the American Museum of Natural History-Hayden Planetarium.