Mountains

Ready for a peak experience? In Mountains, kids will find out everything they ever wanted to know about these majestic formations, from how they take shape when the Earth’s crust buckles or a volcano explodes, to what happens to them as water and weather wear them away. Mountains in the sea, mountains on Mars – it’s all here, including eye-popping statistics about the tallest peaks, the longest ranges, and the most famous volcanoes, including Mount Fuji and Mount Vesuvius. An inspection of all manners of mountains, for kids, takes them through fault-block ranges, like the Sierra Nevada, and fold-type pinnacles, like the Himalayas.

What is it like to live high up on their slopes? Take a glimpse into the lives of Nepalese Sherpas, the Basques of Spain, and the Chipaya of Bolivia, then take a quick peek at La Paz, the highest capital city in the world. Kids will examine the hardy lives of mountain animals, like the llama and the yak, and investigate mountain flora, like the edelweiss. Next up: tales of heroism and bravery on mountains. For kids who love adventure, a chart of milestones in mountain climbing is bound to inspire, and a discussion of the fragile ecosystems found on mountains will give them perspective on the importance of Earth’s plentiful peaks.