'This informational book explores natural disasters with colorful and eye-catching illustrations. Each section of Jacobs's text explains a specific environmental phenomenon. Beyond basic facts about each disaster, there are details about the worst events recorded. Safety tips are also included. The text is formatted to ensure accessibility across grade and interest levels. The scientific content is serious but does not feel overwhelming or cumbersome. Williams's style, reminiscent of graphic novels, adds visual flair to the topic. The vibrant images will hold the attention of readers.
VERDICT: Dynamic illustrations paired with illuminating text will entice even a reluctant reader to revel in this selection; an excellent addition to any nonfiction library'.
– School Library Journal, Starred Review
'Loosely grouped as "Geological" and "Meteorological" disasters, the tally of reminders begins with an overview of plate tectonics, then goes on to explain in short segments of narrative, first, how earthquakes are caused (with a side note on the role of fracking) and measured, then what to do if caught in one, common effects, and finally a map with notes on five particularly destructive recent examples. Each succeeding entry is constructed along similar lines. The author asserts in a final chapter that climate change will spur larger and more widespread natural disasters–including even earthquakes and volcanoes–and that we are facing "the biggest environmental challenge we have ever seen." Williams makes a brave effort to lighten the impact of this worrisome message with brightly colored cartoon views of stylized, impersonal eruptions or wreckage and by interspersing her simple cutaways and diagrams with mildly comical cartoon images of various relevant gods from many traditions or modern (almost all white-presenting) figures cast in the role of observers, commentators, or responders rather than victims. Young readers will nonetheless be left as concerned as they are informed by this catalog of catastrophes.
An eye-opening, and -widening, early introduction to our restless planet'. – Kirkus
'Why does the Earth shudder and shake? What makes a cyclone swirl and a wildfire leap uphill? Jacobs answers these questions and more in this engaging compendium. Divided into geological and meteorological categories, a dedicated section defines each phenomenon, covering its whys, hows, and results; measurement and evaluation techniques; and survival advice (in an avalanche: "swim backstroke uphill as hard as you can"). Each section concludes with a full-spread world map pinpointing and describing "the Biggest and the Worst." Williams's off-kilter, doodle-inflected illustrations adroitly depict a colorful array of maps, diagrams, and images ranging from a fracking rig to volcano innards. The introduction's warning–"every so often, the planet reminds us who's boss"–rings out again at the conclusion, which explains how climate change could amplify each of these terrible and fascinating natural events'. – Publisher's Weekly
'Earth-Shattering Events by Robin Jacobs is a wonderfully thought-out book that details different natural disasters: what they are, how we can prepare for them, and what to do if you find yourself caught in the middle of one. I was thoroughly impressed with the amount of detail and information that is in this book! While its intended audience is kids, adults will enjoy this one as well and may even learn a thing or two.
I highly recommend this one be added to your home library as children will love learning about these natural disasters, especially the ones that effect them'. – YA Books Central
'Robin Jacobs and Sophie Williams have taken naturally occurring disasters from around the world and broken them down to the how, where and why, making them understandable and engaging even for those initially left lukewarm by the topic. Those children who start reading are going to find themselves engrossed in the fault-patterns in tectonic plates, all laid out by Williams' deliberately naïve and colourful illustrations that make each and every page larger-than-life. Drawn in a style designed to be understandable to children and adults alike, the diagrams and cartoons are clear and accessible, illustrating everything from Caribbean gods to the formation of supercell storms. Most importantly of all Williams' use of fun as a tool for learning makes this a valuable way of teaching by stealth.
Williams' diagrams make scientific cross-sections much more comprehensible for young geographers.If the idea of giving a child a book on disasters feels in some way wrong, it's also filled with some very useful information, written with humour by Jacobs. Reinforcing information early and often is an excellent way of ensuring people know what to do in an emergency, and Earth Shattering Events! has examples of what to do in each section.
Earth Shattering Events! is one of those books that perfectly balances both the needs of the child, and the wants of the adult; it's fun, educational and equally entertaining to people big and small. As our world changes around us, understanding the events out of our control happening around us is increasingly important, and yet still overlooked'.
– The AOI'This brilliant book around natural phenomena - sometimes causing natural disasters on mass-scale is fascinating and slightly sobering in equal measures: the geography and physics of tsunamis, volcanoes, blizzards, earthquakes and a whole plethora of other ways that mother nature will, from time-to-time, show who's boss are all covered.
This is such a brilliantly written and illustrated book that we feel fits so well within our year 3 Literary Curriculum theme of Pride and Downfall that we've turned it into a Literary Leaf which will be available to subscribing schools in early January'. – The Literacy Tree
'We often get asked about books to support the 'Awesome Earth' or 'Natural Disasters' topics for KS2 and we think we may have just found the perfect one. Each event is explained in a way that is easy to understand for junior children without compromising on presenting the underlying scientific facts.
A real strength of the book is how highly visual it is, with appealing diagrams, large illustrations, maps and charts contributing greatly to the reader's understanding of each topic.
This is a wonderful book with a high level of appeal and certainly one to recommend for KS2 classrooms as a topic book or a really interesting read for pleasure'.
– Books for Topics'A striking reminder of the enormity of nature. An eye-opening read & on which explores the science behind earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires & much more'. – Picturebooks Blogger
