The interdisciplinary focus of the books in this series will give them broad appeal for cross-curricular lesson plans. Each title focuses on a particular geographic feature, and presents it with a balance of science, geography, and mathematics in a way that encourages readers to think critically about subjects and link new facts with several different subject areas. Each book defines and explains scientific concepts and terms, gives geographic examples from around the world, and poses “real-world math challenges” asking readers to apply math principles such as algebra, fractions, proportions, and percentages. Equally applicable and useful for math, geography, and earth science classrooms, the books of this series broaden the spectrum of a concept to encourage readers to think harder and make new connections between facts and material. Colorful photography and friendly, personal writing give appeal to the subject matter. Middle-grade teachers looking for interdisciplinary materials will find this a very useful series for their classrooms.
Glossary. Table of Contents. Index.
Recommended.
Jennifer MacKay, Senior Content Editor, American Book Publishing, Salt Lake City, Utah

Temperatures aside, there’s no doubting that lava is cooler than division, which is why the high-interest topic of this title in the Real World Math: Geography series should help attract attention to practical applications of mathematics. Nestor clearly outlines the different types of volcanoes, how they are formed, and where they are found as well as details on the magma, ash, gases, and rocks associated with them. Additionally, he includes a few gripping accounts of eruptions, and just about every other page features a math problem that challenges kids to combine basic arithmetic with what they’re learning about volcanoes. It’s a ploy that could easily be obtrusive, but it works well to demonstrate how numbers do play a vital role in everyday life. Picturesque landscape photos capture the majesty of some of the world’s more famous volcanoes, though some may be disappointed to find only a few shots of fiery mayhem. Overall, a well executed subject-blender great for classroom use.