Volcano Dreams - by Janet Fox (Paperback)

About the Book

Volcano Dreams explains in simple language how the explosion of a supervolcano thousands of years ago created the Yellowstone National Park we know today.

Book Synopsis

Volcano Dreams leads readers on a tour of Yellowstone National Park, from the wolves, elk, bears, and mountain goats that live there today to the supervolcano that erupted thousands of years ago.

Volcano Dreams knits together the vibrancy of the Yellowstone ecosystem with its explosive history, placing the everyday lives of its creatures within the context of geological time. Janet Fox's poetic text takes us to the root of it all--the "sleeping giant" of magma responsible for the Yellowstone landscape--and Marlo Garnsworthy's evocative paintings capture the awe of natural forces at work in our nation's oldest national park.

The addendum, "More About Yellowstone and Its Volcano," a glossary defining geological terms, such as mud pots, steam vents, geysers, magma, and lava, and a map further aid children's understanding of supervolcanoes.

Free, downloadable activities designed to accompany the book are available on the publisher's website. Research, nature, art, geology, vocabulary, and literature activities address Common Core State Standards: ELA/Literacy and Next Generation Science Standards.

Review Quotes

2021 Beehive Book Award Nominee, Children's Literature Association of Utah

2020 Treasure State Award 3rd Place, Montana State Literacy Association

2018 Reading the West Award Shortlist

"Janet Fox warmly harnesses the rhythms and sensations of wakefulness and sleep in this insightful exploration of the
geological past and (hopefully quite distant) future of an American treasure."- Chris Barton, author of the Sibert
Honor-winning book
The Day-Glo Brothers

"Under a Yellowstone landscape populated by interesting animals lies a sleeping giant, a great volcano. This book makes
a clever connection between the geology and the wildlife of America's first national park. A gentle text and scenic
illustrations depict various animals' activities throughout the day. Then, attention turns to what's happening
underground, the processes that result in the bubbling mud pots, hissing steam vents, and roaring geysers. Fox describes
a time when the volcano erupted, noting the lasting effects in the rocks and plant cover, and, finally, the narrative
returns to the animals, now ready for sleep. The metaphor is accessible even to young listeners, and the effect is
soothing rather than frightening. The text and translucent frames for the animal scenes are set directly on double-page
illustrations done with pencil, watercolor collage, and digital oil paints. These realistic images show the large
animals described in the text--wolf, moose, bear, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, mountain lion, coyote--and smaller
ones that can be found by the curious child and easily identified by a knowledgeable adult reader. A helpful map on the
title page shows the outlines of the caldera within the park; the backmatter includes a glossary of volcano-related
words and more about this long-dormant "supervolcano." The author's first picture book reflects her own appreciation for
this national treasure, which could inspire family visits. An unusual and appealing addition to the sense-of-wonder
shelf." (Informational picture book. 5-8)-
Kirkus Reviews

"This lyrical, lusciously illustrated title offers an introduction to the flora and fauna of Yellowstone Park to young
readers. A brief history of the formation of the world-renowned land feature is simply, yet dramatically told. The
personification of the magma chamber beneath the park as a sleeping giant will work well for this audience. Special
features such as mud pots, steam vents, and geysers are touched upon, while volcano vocabulary such as magma, volcanic
ash, lava, and obsidian glass are made clear by the vibrant watercolor collage and digital oil illustrations. Children
will be drawn to the double-page spreads depicting animals of Yellowstone--bison, wolves, moose, bears, big horn rams,
and mountain goats--in their natural habitat. Though students will likely choose this book for browsing, it is perfect
for teachers in need of simple, engagingly rendered books on national landmarks, land features, and animal habitats. An
addendum, "More About Yellowstone and Its Volcano," further aids instruction. A valuable addition to an Earth science
collection. Glossary."-
School Library Connection

"Something big is sleeping in Yellowstone, but it isn't any of the animals. The wolf is watching out for her pups, the
moose is scooping up pondweed, the bear is eating chokecherries, the rams are playing, the buffalo are grazing, the
coyote howls, and even the earth is awake. Mud pots are bubbling, steam vents are hissing, and geysers are roaring. Way
down deep in the ground where the rocks are soft and hot, a sleeping giant waits to wake again someday. Long ago the
volcano erupted and formed the great yellow cliffs, columnar joints, liquid rock froze to black obsidian glass and left
the land to be carved into deep canyons by streams and rivers, and lush meadows grew. It may be a very long time before
the volcano erupts again, but for now the animals, nature, and humans enjoy the beauty of Yellowstone. A beautifully
told story of Yellowstone." (Ages 4-8)-
KidsBookshelf

"Lyrical prose and luminous paintings lead young readers ages 5 to 9 on a picture book tour of the Yellowstone
supervolcano, from the wolves, elk, bears, and mountain goats that roam its surface, to the fiery depths of its magma
chamber. "Volcano Dreams: A Story of Yellowstone " deftly knits together the vibrancy of the Yellowstone ecosystem with
its explosive history, placing the everyday lives of its creatures within the context of geological time. Janet Fox's
poetic text takes us to the root of it all by identifying the "sleeping giant" of magma responsible for the Yellowstone
landscape. Marlo Garnsworthy's evocative paintings fully capture the awe of natural forces at work in our nation's
oldest national park. Entertaining, informative, and thoroughly 'kid friendly' from first page to last, "Volcano Dreams:
A Story of Yellowstone" is unreservedly recommended for family, school, and community library collections."-
Midwest Book Review