06/26/2017
When textbooks fall short, head to the kitchen. That’s the thinking behind this clever cooking-meets-science book, which uses cakes to help readers understand how minerals form rocks (via the example of a carrot cake) and the movement of tectonic plates (mimicked in the way two halves of a whoopie pie slide against icing), among other topics. (A “recipe” for granite is also included, though it requires heating the batter to 900 °C, followed by a million years of cooling.) Between recipes, Q&A sections explore a variety of subjects including weathering, fossils, and the Earth’s age. Photographs augment the recipes and discussions, and Coppens builds scientific explanations into each recipe: “The batter is like the magma that will slowly harden to become an intrusive igneous rock.” An unexpected (and tasty) entry point to better understanding multiple aspects of geology. Ages 7–9. (May)
"A high-calorie introduction to rocks, minerals, geological processes, plate tectonics, fossils, the reason for seasons, and more. Coppens dishes up compact but flavorful slices of science framed as questions and answer . . . .The answers, often presented in full recipes, are as illuminating as they are delicious . . . [The] directions are clear (and note where adult help is required), the earth science information is solid, and the whole premise hangs together beautifully. A truly delicious, hands-on way to study science in action." —Kirkus Reviews
"With a profusion of color photos, combined with easy recipes, and delicious cakes depicting accurate science, Geology Is a Piece of Cake provides a fun, unique, effective, and memorable approach to thinking about rock formation, tectonic plate movement, weathering, fossils and more. Thoroughly 'kid friendly' in organization and presentation for children ages 7 to 9, Geology Is a Piece of Cake is especially recommended for family homeschool, elementary school, and community library picture book Science collections." —Midwest Book Review, The Science Shelf
"When textbooks fall short, head to the kitchen. That’s the thinking behind this clever cooking-meets-science book . . . An unexpected (and tasty) entry point to better understanding multiple aspects of geology." —Publishers Weekly
06/01/2017
Gr 4–8—This geology-meets-cookbook hybrid uses cake as a metaphor for explaining earth science concepts. Coppens covers minerals, rock types, and the rock cycle in some detail. Other earth science topics are discussed briefly, including tectonic plates and the earth's layers. Each time a new concept is introduced, the author includes the follow-up question, "How does this relate to cake?" For instance, a layer cake is like a foliated metamorphic rock because they both have layers. A cake recipe is located at the end of each chapter ("extrusive molten lava cake"). In some places the metaphor works surprisingly well; in others it's stretched quite thin. The information is sound and in general well explained. However, the book's design is unpolished compared with that of similar titles. VERDICT Though lacking in some areas, this is overall a creative approach to earth science. Large STEM and cooking collections may want to consider.—Allison McLean, Elkhart Public Library, IN
2017-03-15
A high-calorie introduction to rocks, minerals, geological processes, plate tectonics, fossils, the reason for seasons, and more.Coppens dishes up compact but flavorful slices of science framed as questions and answers—covering topics including the types of fossils, the difference between rocks and minerals, weathering and erosion, continental drift, our planet's inner structure, and the origin of the moon. But throughout, the large, red central question is seldom more than a page turn away: "How does this relate to cake?" The answers, often presented in full recipes, are as illuminating as they are delicious. Young researchers can, for instance, not only better understand the Mohs hardness scale by comparing the sliceability of angel food cake and fruitcake, but actually observe chocolate "magma" flow and harden just like igneous rock from the core of an "Extrusive Molten Lava Cake," among other tasty "experiments." As a final challenge, round "cake pops" painted with blue and green candy melt can be set up around a yellow "sun"…if they last long enough. Many of the color photos (many supplied by the author, and the rest from stock libraries) are on the small side, the source list at the end shows a heavy reliance on Wikipedia articles, and the recipes all require significant tooth-brushing afterward. Still, directions are clear (and note where adult help is required), the earth science information is solid, and the whole premise hangs together beautifully. A truly delicious, hands-on way to study science in action. (Nonfiction. 9-11)
