What kid doesn’t love learning about volcanoes? Sure, some may think it’s kind of scary to imagine a volcano going off near them, but a lot of kids still find it exciting to learn about explosions and magma coming from inside the Earth. We have tons of books available that will help you teach children about the science behind volcanoes as well as related topics like geology and natural disasters. If you’re having trouble getting your child or student interested in non-fiction, try starting them off with a story like Journey to the Volcano Palace from Tony Abbott’s Secrets of Droon series. Whether they just want to see cool pictures of lava flying everywhere or need to do research for a school project, kids will have a blast with these books:
Amazing Volcanoes Around the World by Simon Rose
Eruption!: Volcanoes and the Science of Saving Lives by Elizabeth Rusch
Volcanoes! by Anne Schreiber
Help, I’m in Hot Lava! by Geronimo Stilton
The Magic School Bus Blows Its Top by Gail Herman
Vacation Under the Volcano by Mary Pope Osborne
Science Project Idea: You can make a pretend volcano at home using baking soda and vinegar. Use Play-Doh or papier-mâché to decorate the outside of a small cup so it looks like a volcano, making sure to keep a hole open at the top. Put 3 tablespoons of baking soda in the cup, then slowly pour in ¾ cup of distilled white vinegar or apple cider vinegar to set off your volcanic eruption. Try adding a little food coloring and dish soap inside to make the “lava” colorful and extra foamy.
– Cindy, Youth Services Assistant