By Jaye Garnette, Illustrated by Beatrice Tinarelli
Cottage Door Press, 2021
Board Book, 21 Pages, Ages 3-5
Big, Tiny, Rough & Shiny!
What is a rock? Well, the answers may surprise you as well as your kids. The pages of this book are filled with facts about different rock layers that make up the earth, facts about precious and semi-precious gems, rocks that are huge such as Mount Everest, and tiny rocks too. Geology is a big subject yet this small book seems to narrow it down into interesting facts, beautiful pages, facts about who studies rocks, and even how rocks form.
“Learn, discover, explore, shine!”
Like all the Smithsonian books, this book is very well written, presented, and illustrated. I enjoy the entire series of Smithsonian Kids First Discovery Board books as well as their books for older kids, and even adults. What’s not to like about Smithsonian?
I do, however, have one observation. Unlike most board books that are appropriate for ages 1-5, these books are loaded with lots of facts that wouldn’t hold the attention of a one or two year old, which is why this book receives 4.5 stars instead of 5. The pages do have embossed areas that would be a fun tactile experience for little ones, however, a parent should keep in mind that this is really for preschoolers and early elementary school age children. However, this wouldn’t prevent me from buying the book for those that are younger, just with different expectations.
Smithsonian Kids, Rocks and Gems: First Discover Book by Jaye Garnette receives 4.5 stars from this reviewer.