Why can we breathe on Earth but not on Mars? Why do we have four seasons? Why is our planet covered in water when others are bone dry? And what would happen to all life on Earth if the Sun were just a little closer or a little farther away?
Why Is Earth Special? answers all these questions and more, taking young readers on a fascinating journey of discovery through the science of our extraordinary home planet. Written in clear, simple language with large easy-to-read text, short chapters, and a fun fact on every topic, this book is perfect for early readers in grades K through 3 who are curious about the world around them.
Thirteen engaging chapters cover everything that makes Earth unique:
The Goldilocks Zone - why Earth sits at exactly the right distance from the Sun, not too hot and not too cold, to allow liquid water and life to exist. The other planets in the solar system are either too close to the Sun and scorching hot, or too far away and frozen solid. Earth is in the perfect position, just like the porridge in the story of Goldilocks.
Water - why liquid water is the most precious thing about our planet, how the water cycle works, how oceans distribute heat around the world, and why every living thing on Earth depends on water to survive. Earth is the only planet in the solar system where water exists on the surface as a liquid ocean.
The atmosphere - the thin layer of air that gives us oxygen to breathe, protects us from harmful radiation, destroys most space rocks before they hit the ground, and keeps our planet warm enough for life. Without our atmosphere, Earth would be a frozen, lifeless rock.
Earth's invisible magnetic shield - the powerful magnetic field generated by our planet's liquid iron core that protects us from the dangerous particles of the solar wind. Without this shield, the solar wind would gradually strip away our atmosphere, just as it did on Mars billions of years ago. The northern and southern lights, or auroras, are the beautiful by-product of this invisible protection.
Seasons and the reason for them - why Earth's 23.5-degree tilt gives us four wonderful seasons, how animals migrate and hibernate to cope with seasonal changes, and why some places on Earth have very long days or nights at certain times of year.
Day and night - how Earth's 24-hour spin creates the rhythm of daylight and darkness that every living thing on our planet is tuned to, and why people experience jet lag when they travel between different time zones.
Plate tectonics - how Earth's surface is made of giant moving pieces that build mountains, cause earthquakes, create volcanoes, and recycle the crust in a way no other planet in the solar system does.
The Moon's special role - how the Moon creates our ocean tides, stabilizes Earth's tilt to give us regular seasons, slowed Earth's spin to give us our 24-hour day, and creates the spectacular total solar eclipses that are unique to Earth in the entire solar system.
A comparison with other planets - a side-by-side look at how Earth compares with Mercury, Venus, and Mars, and why every planet falls short of Earth's remarkable combination of features that make it perfect for life.
And finally, how we can all take care of this extraordinary planet that is unlike anything else we have ever found in the universe.
Every chapter ends with a star-marked FUN FACT that will amaze young readers and give them something exciting to share with their family and friends. A full glossary of 18 key science words is included at the back of the book.
Perfect for: Early readers ages 5 to 8 in grades K-3. Classroom read-alouds and homeschool science lessons. Gift buyers looking for an educational space book that children will genuinely love. Any child who has ever looked at the sky and wondered why our planet is so different from all the others.
