A Rock Is Born: An Epic Journey Through Time

K-Gr 2–The rock cycle is simply told over 130 billion years, as one rock undergoes a transformation of weathering through lava, mud, and weather, and is broken into pieces underneath sediment to be reborn. Minimal text and captions highlight how time moves slowly for the rock, even as life moves on around it. Digital illustrations are clean and rich, careful to highlight the rock as it becomes a grain of sediment and enlarging it to depict microscopic minerals and crystals. Most pages are full-bleed spreads. One spread requires readers to turn the book sideways as the rock falls into the sea; for some readers, this may throw off the rhythm. The narrative is clean and uses some scientific terms, such as magma, lava, and tectonic plates, which young children may need an assist in decoding. The text, despite the overuse of ellipses, explains the rock cycle well. Back matter includes an explanation of the three kinds of rocks and a fuller understanding of how this particular rock transitioned. That back matter is aimed at a more mature audience and lacks a glossary. Purchasers may want to consider Xelena González’s Where Wonder Grows and Heather Ferranti Kinser’s Nature Is a Sculptor to complement and supplement this title.