295. Hill of Fire by Thomas P. Lewis

Hill of Fire by Thomas P. Lewis. Pictures by Joan Sandin. (Canada) - (US)
An I Can Read Book, Level 3

Pages: 64
Ages: 7+
Finished: Oct. 29, 2012
First Published: 1983
Publisher: HarperTrophy
Genre: easy reader, history, geography, volcanoes
Rating: 5/5




First sentence: "Once there was a farmer who lived in Mexico."

Publisher's Summary:  ""El Monstruo!"

Every day is the same for Pablo's father. Then one afternoon the ground growls, hisses smoke, and swallows up his plow. A volcano is erupting in the middle of his cornfield!"


Acquired: Purchased a new copy from a homeschool retailer.

Reason for Reading: Ds read aloud to me for his reader.

This book never fails to stun kids, the first time they read/hear it.  How can a volcano just grow like that?  It seems utterly amazing.  But this is based on a true story and the volcano really did appear in a farmer's cornfield and bury the village with lava and ash.Written in a simple, easy to understand narrative, from the point of view of the farmer's son Pablo.  This is a truly unique story that is sure to please any child, even those who don't usually like non-fiction.  The illustrations are ok.  We weren't too pleased with the depiction of the erupting volcano as it wasn't realistic enough and my son kept asking what's that?, what's happening there? and it was just that the illustrations didn't show the *how* of it very well.  A diagram at this point would have been appreciated.  Fortunately, I was able to explain and illustrate with my hands to his satisfaction.  Otherwise, a very entertaining book.  The Volcano is called Paricutin and it, along with the abandoned village, may be visited today.

Paricutin Volcano, Church Buried by Lava Flow