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Mountain Dance
Listen. The earth seems still and quiet, but constantly, silently, it is moving and changing.
Mountain Dance takes readers from summit to shore, and into the depths of the earth, exploring the geographic forces it takes to move, build, and wear away the great peaks and valleys of our planet. Thomas Locker's poetic text and exquisitely detailed paintings reveal fascinating details of geology in this beautiful and inspiring introduction to earth science.
Mountain Dance takes readers from summit to shore, and into the depths of the earth, exploring the geographic forces it takes to move, build, and wear away the great peaks and valleys of our planet. Thomas Locker's poetic text and exquisitely detailed paintings reveal fascinating details of geology in this beautiful and inspiring introduction to earth science.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2001
1 person is currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Locker
52 books20 followersThomas Locker was one of the major American painters of the past century. In a career that spanned almost 60 years, he had over 75 solo exhibitions. His work ranged from the delicate to the monumental, but all had one thing in common: the beauty of the natural world. He had a deep appreciation for the elusive link between the human spirit and the sublime force of nature.
He spent his entire life in service to his two great passions: painting and nature. Through widespread exhibition of his artwork and publication of his illustrated children’s books, Mr. Locker touched the hearts and minds of countless people.
Mr. Locker’s early paintings were poetic landscapes. Dr. Joshua C. Taylor, former director of the National Collection of Fine Arts for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., wrote, "Although Locker’s landscapes are not glimpses of a new Arcadia, the quotation from the past re-emphasizes their cerebral play. They call attention less to Nature than to the complex intermingling of perception and thought in the mind of man. Suddenly, seeing becomes thinking, and thinking a delight to the age."
In 1982, Thomas Locker’s career took on a new and even broader dimension. In an effort to connect with a wider audience and educate younger minds, he began work on his first children’s picture book, Where the River Begins. Today, Mr. Locker’s exceptional paintings and illustrations grace the pages of some 30 different books, several of which he also wrote. These unique books have been honoured with numerous awards, including the prestigious Christopher Award, the John Burroughs Award, and the New York Times Award for best illustration.
Thomas Locker’s landscapes have a quality all their own. His years of experimentation and research into the glazing techniques and paint chemistry of traditional European painting have enabled him to achieve a new vision of the traditional for a non-traditional age.
His books have received many awards, including the John Burroughs Young Reader Award, NCTE Notable Trade Books in the Language Arts, NSTA-CBS Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children, the Christopher Award, and others.
http://www.rmichelson.com/Artist_Page...
He spent his entire life in service to his two great passions: painting and nature. Through widespread exhibition of his artwork and publication of his illustrated children’s books, Mr. Locker touched the hearts and minds of countless people.
Mr. Locker’s early paintings were poetic landscapes. Dr. Joshua C. Taylor, former director of the National Collection of Fine Arts for the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., wrote, "Although Locker’s landscapes are not glimpses of a new Arcadia, the quotation from the past re-emphasizes their cerebral play. They call attention less to Nature than to the complex intermingling of perception and thought in the mind of man. Suddenly, seeing becomes thinking, and thinking a delight to the age."
In 1982, Thomas Locker’s career took on a new and even broader dimension. In an effort to connect with a wider audience and educate younger minds, he began work on his first children’s picture book, Where the River Begins. Today, Mr. Locker’s exceptional paintings and illustrations grace the pages of some 30 different books, several of which he also wrote. These unique books have been honoured with numerous awards, including the prestigious Christopher Award, the John Burroughs Award, and the New York Times Award for best illustration.
Thomas Locker’s landscapes have a quality all their own. His years of experimentation and research into the glazing techniques and paint chemistry of traditional European painting have enabled him to achieve a new vision of the traditional for a non-traditional age.
His books have received many awards, including the John Burroughs Young Reader Award, NCTE Notable Trade Books in the Language Arts, NSTA-CBS Outstanding Science Trade Book for Children, the Christopher Award, and others.
http://www.rmichelson.com/Artist_Page...
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
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October 3, 2014Mountain Dance is a simple book examining the various types of mountains. This book would be good for doing a lesson bout Earth Science and Mountains. I enjoyed it because of the beautiful pictures of mountains and how they were described.
November 19, 2017
Informational Texts
Awards: N/A
Appropriate Grade Levels:1-5
Summary: Mountain Dance provides its reader with interesting geological information about our planet's peaks, valleys, and forces. This book is an excellent gateway into the study of Earth Science for young readers.
Review: Thomas Locker uses poetic language to capture the reader, and certainly has a fascinating way of conveying information. This text has even taught me a lot about the world we live in--not only with its words but illustrations as well. This is a great addition to any classroom for students that have interest in the sciences.
In-Class Uses:
-Read as an introduction to a science lesson
-Add to the class library--children really appreciate informational texts and adding this book to the arsenal will allow children to explore what could potentially become an interest of theirs.
Awards: N/A
Appropriate Grade Levels:1-5
Summary: Mountain Dance provides its reader with interesting geological information about our planet's peaks, valleys, and forces. This book is an excellent gateway into the study of Earth Science for young readers.
Review: Thomas Locker uses poetic language to capture the reader, and certainly has a fascinating way of conveying information. This text has even taught me a lot about the world we live in--not only with its words but illustrations as well. This is a great addition to any classroom for students that have interest in the sciences.
In-Class Uses:
-Read as an introduction to a science lesson
-Add to the class library--children really appreciate informational texts and adding this book to the arsenal will allow children to explore what could potentially become an interest of theirs.
December 6, 2018
Mountain dance uses words to illustrate the slow and unique movement of different kinds of mountains. With focused detailed illustrations and accompanying descriptions, you are transported to the different mountains, viewing them not as stationary but with movement relative to their surroundings.
This book is lovely. It's quiet writing and focused illustrations draws the reader in and gives wonderful clarity to the differences among the mountains. This book is beautiful and mesmerizing, helping the reader to get lost in the wonder of mountains.
A book that connects to this book is Great Crystal Bear by Carolyn Lesser. Like Mountain Dance, the writing is poetic and the illustrations are simple and beautiful.
"Beneath the stars, mountains dance their slow dance that goes on and on in the endless beauty of the universe."
This book is lovely. It's quiet writing and focused illustrations draws the reader in and gives wonderful clarity to the differences among the mountains. This book is beautiful and mesmerizing, helping the reader to get lost in the wonder of mountains.
A book that connects to this book is Great Crystal Bear by Carolyn Lesser. Like Mountain Dance, the writing is poetic and the illustrations are simple and beautiful.
"Beneath the stars, mountains dance their slow dance that goes on and on in the endless beauty of the universe."
December 23, 2025
Through a series of lovely oil paintings, the author-illustrator describes various mountainous shapes and hints at how they are believed to have been formed with spare and lyrical language. More details are found in the back matter as well as examples of mountain ranges of each type. Beautiful hand-lettered calligraphy as well.
December 20, 2017
The photos in this book are wonderful, and the words are poetic and lyrical. The back of the book explains the formation of mountains in a more detailed, older manner for those who want to know more. A beautiful, artistic book, but I don't know how much it will hold a child's interest.
January 5, 2024
my fave Thomas Locker is back at it again with making me adore science impossibly more with his books?? you know it. my brain feels happy whenever i see the poems and paintings ahhh, it never gets old. thank you Thomas Locker for making me see the earth's beauties even more than i already have <3
August 14, 2018
Beautiful nonfiction accessible to younger kids. Not sure it's quite right for storytime. Recommended ages 4-7.
September 26, 2018
Great non-f about different types of mountains.
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March 15, 2021I thought this was great! Would be a great read in a class setting.
April 12, 2022
This is a good book to teach young children about mountains and their features.
September 23, 2022
Simple text and stunning illustrations combines to introduce various types of mountains and erosion.
February 3, 2023
The story was nothing to write home about, but the paintings are truly exquisite.
August 5, 2023
The different types of mountains are explored both poetically and then again in additional notes in the back of the book.
February 28, 2015
This one is pretty and has lots of facts. Who knew there were so many kinds of mountains? I didn't. The pictures were amazing. I really loved the volcano one and the one of the forest which looks like Moss Glen Falls. And the best part is, at the end it's got lots of facts just in case you need to know more than what they told you during the story. So it's like two books in one. And that makes it double good!
September 27, 2011
This is a beautiful description of mountains. Many different types of mountains are illustrated through incredible paintings. Thisbook is a wonderful supplement to geography lessons that deal with earth forces, volcanoes and the movement of the earth. Who knew that such a subject could be dealt with so poetically?
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December 20, 2010Earth: The Inside Story - unit 2
Theme Library
4th grade
Rocky Tales - unit 8
Leveled Books - Advanced
Theme Library
4th grade
Rocky Tales - unit 8
Leveled Books - Advanced
October 1, 2011
A good book for introducing different types of mountains. Would be a great addition to a 2nd or 3rd grade study of geology. For my young ones, it was a little too technical for story time.
April 16, 2012
A useful book about the formation of mountains. There is a glossary in the back of different types of mountains and how they are formed. Beautiful, accurate illustrations.
May 9, 2012
This is a good book to introduce students to a variety of mountain types. My younger boys liked the pictures, but I'm not sure they really understood the science talk in it. I did like it, though.
January 28, 2012
Gorgeous illustrations and wonderful story to go along with them. It is informative.
April 4, 2017
1. N/a
2. Pre-K- 2nd
3. This book is an informational text about mountains. The book has paintings of beautiful scenery. The book gives information about how mountain come about and the different types of mountains.
4. This book was easy to read. The pictures were very well illustrated and it was interesting to see how the types of mountains came about.
5. Geography, independent reading.
2. Pre-K- 2nd
3. This book is an informational text about mountains. The book has paintings of beautiful scenery. The book gives information about how mountain come about and the different types of mountains.
4. This book was easy to read. The pictures were very well illustrated and it was interesting to see how the types of mountains came about.
5. Geography, independent reading.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews