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My Awesome Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals: Track and Identify Your Treasures
Become a rock hound with this field guide for kids ages 7 to 10
The world of rocks and minerals is massive, amazing, and full of cool new things to uncover! My Awesome Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals teaches you the skills you need to collect, identify, and catalog your own treasures.
Explore 150 different rocks and minerals, and get step-by-step guidelines for testing and identifying the ones you encounter out in the field. There’s also plenty of notebook space so you can record data about your finds. So get out there, gather cool looking samples, and discover what they are!
My Awesome Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals
An intro to earth science―Explore the layers of the earth, how rocks and minerals are formed, the periodic table, and more essential information for young scientists.Handy fact sheets―Learn more about all kinds of unique rocks and minerals with fact sheets that are conveniently organized to help with identification.A field notebook―Record all your rock-hunting sample data on pages that include cut-out numbers for cataloging.
Identify and catalog rocks and minerals with this fascinating field guide that has everything you need to get started.
The world of rocks and minerals is massive, amazing, and full of cool new things to uncover! My Awesome Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals teaches you the skills you need to collect, identify, and catalog your own treasures.
Explore 150 different rocks and minerals, and get step-by-step guidelines for testing and identifying the ones you encounter out in the field. There’s also plenty of notebook space so you can record data about your finds. So get out there, gather cool looking samples, and discover what they are!
My Awesome Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals
An intro to earth science―Explore the layers of the earth, how rocks and minerals are formed, the periodic table, and more essential information for young scientists.Handy fact sheets―Learn more about all kinds of unique rocks and minerals with fact sheets that are conveniently organized to help with identification.A field notebook―Record all your rock-hunting sample data on pages that include cut-out numbers for cataloging.
Identify and catalog rocks and minerals with this fascinating field guide that has everything you need to get started.
440 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 29, 2019
236 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 7, 2019
This really is an awesome field guide and rock tracker. It gives kids so much information about rocks, minerals, and the science behind them. Kids will learn how rocks are formed, about things like the Mohs scale, and see detailed pictures and descriptions of 150 rocks and minerals. At the end, there are log pages for 50 finds. The book even gives instructions on how to log in the digital version.
This is such a good scientific resource to teach kids about geology. It would make a wonderful book for a geology unit for homeschools. The color photos are excellent, and the book itself is really well written. The author does a great job expressing his enthusiasm for rock hunting and passing it on to the reader. I also love that each rock/mineral has information like streak color, hardness, cleavage, etc. to help kids positively ID their finds.
The one thing I wish it had was a section of examples of rocks that kids might find and showing the actual steps in IDing them. Our family has been enthusiastically rock hunting for all of our kids' lives and I know that the specimens that kids find don't generally look like the pictures in field guides. It would be great to see some examples of real rocks found in various places and the showing the clues used to tell what they were.
That said, this is the best rock and mineral book I've found and I really loved it. I may buy a copy for our home library to aid in our kids' rock hunting adventures.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
This is such a good scientific resource to teach kids about geology. It would make a wonderful book for a geology unit for homeschools. The color photos are excellent, and the book itself is really well written. The author does a great job expressing his enthusiasm for rock hunting and passing it on to the reader. I also love that each rock/mineral has information like streak color, hardness, cleavage, etc. to help kids positively ID their finds.
The one thing I wish it had was a section of examples of rocks that kids might find and showing the actual steps in IDing them. Our family has been enthusiastically rock hunting for all of our kids' lives and I know that the specimens that kids find don't generally look like the pictures in field guides. It would be great to see some examples of real rocks found in various places and the showing the clues used to tell what they were.
That said, this is the best rock and mineral book I've found and I really loved it. I may buy a copy for our home library to aid in our kids' rock hunting adventures.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
December 6, 2019
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
My Awesome Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals is an engaging and accessible introduction to rocks and minerals, safe and responsible collection and identification, and geology. Released 12th Nov 2019 by Rockridge Press, it's 232 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats.
I've been promoting STE(A)M education for decades. Finding and nurturing learners' (not just kids) interests are key to making the next generation of scientists and technologists. I honestly have yet to meet a person who wasn't at least moderately interested in rocks and minerals. They're fascinating. That is what the author harnesses and his own enthusiasm and broad knowledge of the subject shines through.
The book has a logical format and easy to use layout. An introduction to earth science is followed by a chapter on safe and responsible specimen collection including procedures and accepted standard record-keeping methods. The following section contains a compendium of individual minerals and metals with notes on density, molecular composition, interesting facts, and photographs. There are lots and lots of photographs. The book also contains a nice field journal which can be used as is (it includes specimen numbers to correlate with the entries in the journal) or as a template for a separate field journal. I really like that the information in this book uses standard notations and accepted journal formats which will serve as a good basis for scientific record keeping later on in life. Though ostensibly aimed at younger readers, it's a perfectly good introduction to the earth sciences for all ages.
It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. The book also includes a nice (interactive) links and resources list, a bibliography, glossary, and short author bio. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.
This would be a nice selection for school or classroom library, a good basis for a classroom or library activity or homeschool unit on earth science, or a super gift, maybe bundled with some of the collecting gear the author mentions in the book.
Very well done and appealing. Five stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
My Awesome Field Guide to Rocks and Minerals is an engaging and accessible introduction to rocks and minerals, safe and responsible collection and identification, and geology. Released 12th Nov 2019 by Rockridge Press, it's 232 pages and available in paperback and ebook formats.
I've been promoting STE(A)M education for decades. Finding and nurturing learners' (not just kids) interests are key to making the next generation of scientists and technologists. I honestly have yet to meet a person who wasn't at least moderately interested in rocks and minerals. They're fascinating. That is what the author harnesses and his own enthusiasm and broad knowledge of the subject shines through.
The book has a logical format and easy to use layout. An introduction to earth science is followed by a chapter on safe and responsible specimen collection including procedures and accepted standard record-keeping methods. The following section contains a compendium of individual minerals and metals with notes on density, molecular composition, interesting facts, and photographs. There are lots and lots of photographs. The book also contains a nice field journal which can be used as is (it includes specimen numbers to correlate with the entries in the journal) or as a template for a separate field journal. I really like that the information in this book uses standard notations and accepted journal formats which will serve as a good basis for scientific record keeping later on in life. Though ostensibly aimed at younger readers, it's a perfectly good introduction to the earth sciences for all ages.
It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. The book also includes a nice (interactive) links and resources list, a bibliography, glossary, and short author bio. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers, this book is included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.
This would be a nice selection for school or classroom library, a good basis for a classroom or library activity or homeschool unit on earth science, or a super gift, maybe bundled with some of the collecting gear the author mentions in the book.
Very well done and appealing. Five stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
October 30, 2019
Having children who are frequently searching for rocks and then asking what it is they have found this is a FABULOUS resource to have in our home. Written by a geologist, Gary 'talks' to kids in a very easy manner. First off he talks about the science of the earth, how rocks and minerals are formed and includes a copy of the Periodic Table. Where to hunt for 'treasure' comes next. After this it is time to delve into the minerals. These are grouped in color groups along with a picture and a pile of other information. The rocks section is grouped by igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. Starting on Page 149 you will find "My Field Notebook" with 50 pages that your child can use to keep track of their specimens.
LOVE the easy Contents Directory at the beginning but be warned: these are in page order not alphabetical! The alphabetical index is at the back. EXCELLENT educational resource. I was provided a copy by the publisher. Thanks, Liz
LOVE the easy Contents Directory at the beginning but be warned: these are in page order not alphabetical! The alphabetical index is at the back. EXCELLENT educational resource. I was provided a copy by the publisher. Thanks, Liz
September 16, 2020
Amazing resource for young "rockhounds." I have always liked looking at and collecting rocks wherever I go, but I am not a real rockhound, I simply like to look at the rocks because they are pretty. I'm curious, but I really don't care what they are made from. This book is for those interested in learning a little more about their rock treasures and their composition. This book gives a detailed explanation of minerals and how minerals combine to form rocks and the various ways rocks are formed. It's detailed, but it's very clearly explained without large scientific hard-to-understand words. It clearly explains what things a rockhound needs to keep track of to get an identification of the rock they found, and where to start hunting for this treasure. There is an extensive list of rock/mineral descriptions for rockhounds to consult and a place to keep field notes in the back.
October 30, 2019
This book is PERFECT for any kid, teen, or adult looking into collecting or identifying rocks and minerals. The pictures are great, the font is large, and the identifying markers are descriptively written. As a bonus there is a field notebook in the back where readers can fill in entries about different specimens they've found or collected. I'm sure this book is intended for kids but the way that it is laid out makes it appealing for adults as well. An excellent guide and the perfect gift for anyone who is just getting into rock and mineral collecting. The only thing that could have improved it is if it were spiral bound so you could flip through it easier, but really that's not even a deal-breaker for me.
November 8, 2019
This book is great for kids from 9 to 90! An accessible field guide with wonderful photos, it starts with a guide on how to become a rockhound, has a section on minerals, one on rocks, and finally a sizable 50 page Field Notebook. The photos are current, digital, and particularly notable: chatoyancy, color, and detail is well-visible. So many field guides seem to have photos from the 70s with sketchy color!
Thanks, Callisto, for the book!
Thanks, Callisto, for the book!
January 14, 2020
With Kids who go nuts for Rocks and love figuring out what rocks they have found and if the are unique or just another rock. This book is perfect for kids and even adults who love rockhounding.
The books layout is easy to follow and will help readers learn about how to tell between the different types of rocks and learn the history of the earth at the same time.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of My Awesome Field Guide by Gary Lewis
The books layout is easy to follow and will help readers learn about how to tell between the different types of rocks and learn the history of the earth at the same time.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a copy of My Awesome Field Guide by Gary Lewis
February 26, 2020
I am an absolute rock hound. I love stones and crystals. I have storebought and found rocks. I love them all. This book is geared more toward kids, but I find it extremely useful in my own studies. It helps me learn more about the stones I have and find and works as an excellent identification guide!
This book was free from the publisher for this unbiased review.
This book was free from the publisher for this unbiased review.
January 6, 2023
I gave this to my 10 year old grandson the same year he received a rock tumbler. Nicely illustrated, not too long. He enjoyed it.
April 17, 2020
The author’s excitement seems to jump off of each page of My Awesome Field to Rocks and Minerals. It is abundantly clear that he is passionate about this subject. Not only that but his gift for teaching allows him to clearly explain, what otherwise might be difficult material, in such a way that novices, like me, can understand. His excitement is contagious and makes you want to run out to the nearest rock pile to see what treasures you might find.
The first part of the book is a description of the process of collecting rocks. In the final section of the book the author includes a “Field Notebook” where rock collectors can make notations, of their finds, in an orderly and systematic way. This section helps the collector know how to keep notes which will aid in the future as he or she becomes more proficient and adept at discovering and identifying rock finds. The middle sections (two) are descriptions of the minerals and rocks which the collector will want to be on the look out for in order to add them to his or her collection. The author even includes some “minerals” which are technically within the orbit of rocks, but which collectors enjoy having in their collections. He seems to touch all the bases.
If you are a novice rock collector or want to become involved in this fascinating hobby this book is the place to start. Gary Lewis helps you know what to do, how to do it, and where to find some of the most interesting pieces which you will want to add to your collection. If you have been at this a while, you might already know everything included in the book, but this will be a book which you will want to share with others so they can know what you find so fascinating about this hobby and maybe, just maybe, they might want to join you in your next expedition.
Upon request the publisher sent me a copy of the book to review.
The first part of the book is a description of the process of collecting rocks. In the final section of the book the author includes a “Field Notebook” where rock collectors can make notations, of their finds, in an orderly and systematic way. This section helps the collector know how to keep notes which will aid in the future as he or she becomes more proficient and adept at discovering and identifying rock finds. The middle sections (two) are descriptions of the minerals and rocks which the collector will want to be on the look out for in order to add them to his or her collection. The author even includes some “minerals” which are technically within the orbit of rocks, but which collectors enjoy having in their collections. He seems to touch all the bases.
If you are a novice rock collector or want to become involved in this fascinating hobby this book is the place to start. Gary Lewis helps you know what to do, how to do it, and where to find some of the most interesting pieces which you will want to add to your collection. If you have been at this a while, you might already know everything included in the book, but this will be a book which you will want to share with others so they can know what you find so fascinating about this hobby and maybe, just maybe, they might want to join you in your next expedition.
Upon request the publisher sent me a copy of the book to review.
February 21, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews