Stunning photos. See the tiniest details usually hidden from the naked eye.

How the Earth Works
by John Farndon, Michael Dunning (Illustrator), John Fardon
Readers Digest; ISBN: 0895774119

Full of details about Earth - its shape, make-up, and forces--and scientific experiments to explore these aspects of our planet. Readers will learn about erosion and wind patterns. Experiments and projects explore the earth's structure, features, and changing landscape.

Earth: Our Dynamic Planet
Edited by Edmond Mathez
New Press, Available winter 2000

This book explores the current research surrounding the Earth's processes, including the history of the earth, climate and climate change, conditions of habitability, volcanoes, earthquakes, and plate tectonics.

Earthquakes, 4th Edition
by Bruce A. Bolt
W.H. Freeman and Company; ISBN: 071673396X

Dr. Bolt is a renowned earthquake scientist. He was Director of the University of California Seismographic Stations for twenty-eight years, has made many post-earthquake investigations and has written and edited many textbooks on earthquakes, geology, and computers.

Rocks and Minerals (National Audubon Society First Field Guides)
by Edward R. Ricciuti, Margaret W. Carruthers
Scholastic Trade; ISBN: 0590054635

The field guide features 50 common specimens with photos and descriptions of many more regionally occurring rocks and minerals. Brief discussions of threatened and endangered species are particularly valuable. The book also comes equipped with laminated field "cheat sheet" cards, for quick identification while on the go, in any kind of weather.

Rocks & Minerals (Eyewitness Books)
by R. F. Symes
Knopf; ISBN: 0394896211

Text and photographs examine the creation, importance, erosion, mining, and uses of rocks and minerals. The beauty and importance of minerals, metals, crystals, fossils, and gemstones are shown in page after page of vivid photos.

Rocks, Minerals & Fossils of the World
by Chris Pellant with Roger Phillips
Little Brown & Co (Pap); ISBN: 0316697966

This guides combines microscopic studies and landscape photographs, and is a good reference for collectors and enthusiasts to use in identifying the vast array of rocks, minerals, and fossils found throughout the world.

The Story of the Earth
by F.W.Dunning, P.J. Adams, J.C. Thackray, S. van Rose, I.F. Mercer and R.H. Roberts
British Museum of Natural History; ISBN: 0565011138

This series of publications present Earth's history and dynamic systems for a general readership. It has a clear style and concise format without over-simplification.

Tales of the Earth: Paroxysms and Perturbations of the Blue Planet
by Charles Officer and Jake Page
University Press; ISBN: 0195090489

Some of the greatest events of environmental history, natural catastrophes, and disasters. For example, in 1816 red, yellow, brown, or blue snow fell, and New England had no summer. From natural catastrophes such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and ice-ages to Chernobyl and other man-made disasters, the authors describe nature's power over humanity, as well as the trouble humanity makes for nature.

Understanding Earth
by Frank Press and Raymond Siever
W.H. Freeman and Company; ISBN: 0716728362

This is an excellent introductory level textbook, which contains many good color illustrations and comes with a CD-ROM. A study guide for this book is also available.

Why the Earth Quakes: The Story of Earthquakes and Volcanoes
by Matthys Levy and Mario Salvadori
W.W. Norton; ISBN: 0393315274