I thought the poems were beautiful as well as the illustrations that would draw the readers in. It's very informative to the reader and I could see teachers and librarians guiding students along as well as partnering this book with certain programs.

I feel so inspired and in awe of the world now!

"Nature is a sculptor and the world is our museum." Holy crap, why have I never looked at it this way?

The hiking culture is strong here in Buffalo, NY, and the idea of taking a trip to, say, Moab instead of the Bahamas makes total sense to the outdoorsy nature lovers here. This book is going to be my inspiration for the next ten years' worth of travel, if I have anything to say about it.

For a child, this wonder and awe is such a gift. Understanding early on just how powerful and creative the forces of nature can be, not just in destructive ways like with hurricanes but also in gorgeous ways like canyons and hoodoos, can inspire a lifetime of exploration. The photographs here don't do it all justice, but they make a grand attempt.

A totally gift-worthy book for any child first grade and up.

This book, full of pictures of landforms shaped by erosion, gives a general overview of what erosion is and does. The images will prompt discussion and the explanatory text after the story gives more detail. My 4th graders study erosion and this will be a great book to introduce it to them.

🏜️ I’ve been very fortunate to see some of the world’s most fascinating scenic locations - from the Grand Canyon to the Alps in Italy and lots of things in between. But there is one place I always recommend above everything else, and that is Antelope Canyon in Arizona. It is the most phenomenal example that nature is indeed a sculptor!

🏜️ Weathering and erosion is responsible for “sculpting” most of our most beautiful geologic locations! While we often think of water flow and erosion as damaging (and it certainly can be), it can also be revealing! I love how this book emphasizes the beauty that can be uncovered by water, ice, and wind.

🏜️ The text is written in verse! I didn’t expect that.

🏜️ This book is full of gorgeous imagery and scientific principles. It is a stunning tour through some of our most gorgeous landscapes. You’ll enjoy the photos and learn something too! It is a must for any classroom!

Thank you @NetGalley and @lernerbooks / Millbrook Press for an eARC of this book, which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This book was really well done. The photos are beautiful and helpful and pair well with the text. Some STEAM in there. Great for earth science curriculum.

It is hard to find a solid science picture book for read-aloud that has photographs as illustrations. Nature Is a Sculptor: Weathering and Erosion by Heather Ferranti Kinser (Milbrook Press, September 2023) is such a book. It features photography of geological wonders from around the world, paired with soft poetry that is nice to read-aloud. It not only gives examples of the power of wind, ice, and water within the photos but it also uses practical vocabulary in the readable sentences, thus teaching the geological concepts of weathering, erosion, and deposition.


Each photo is labeled with the name of the geological feature (“Delicate Arch”), and where it is found. Various typefaces and text size emphasize different parts of the sentences, emphasizing the important words and highlighting the titular phrase “Nature is a sculptor” every few pages. The book does not talk down to the child reader and the sentences seamlessly flow from one to the next. The rhymes are not forced but rather “soft” rhymes, so when words don’t actually rhyme, it still has the assonance of a rhyme. For example, extremes is rhymed with museums and moves with smooths. It makes for such a pleasant read-aloud!

As is often to be expected, end matter further clarifies each scientific term, the photos are explained, and a glossary supplements the rest of the text. Even without the end matter, however, a young child will certainly appreciate the stunning landscapes in the photos. They will stand in awe of the concept that nature was the sculptor of these unique features around the world.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance review copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the kind of ook I would definitely use as a homeschool mom. The verse is lovely with great meter and rhyme. Nothing that made me wince. And the pictures are gorgeous. Lots of good info in the backmatter. This is one kids will enjoy poring over.

This was a beautifully photographed book with poetic descriptions of the formations found through nature. No mention of a deity and the information follows the science, which really appeals to me as a librarian and parent. This is a great resource, but the book is heavier on beautiful photographs, and lighter on information. If interested in learning more, readers should know that they will want to look for a more meaty description in other books.

Simple rhyming text accompany the amazing color photos which show the detail of Mother Nature's artistry when she uses forces of nature to create these epic cliffs, caves, and caverns from around the world. Excellent back matter with glossary and suggestions for further reading. Definitely belongs in all libraries, and may on the coffee table.
Thank you to Millbrook Press, an imprint of Lerner Publishing, and Netgalley for the digital arc

This was a lovely picture book, containing a lovely poem about nature. I especially liked the notes at the end for more advanced readers, who could be curious on the “how?” And “why?” things are formed.

This nonfiction picture book features stunning nature photography and a poem about how nature sculpts the earth over time. The poetry doesn't always flow perfectly, but it works well overall, and the end of the book includes clear scientific explanations about different ways that weathering and erosion happen. The endnotes also include more information about the locations pictured throughout.

A beautiful, poetic, and engaging treatment of weathering and erosion -- a topic that isn't covered by many picture books. Gorgeous, full-color photographs accompany the lyrical text. This will be a great addition to second grade classes studying this topic in science and/or social studies.

Amazing, colorful photos and poetic text reveal the beauty of art formed formed by water, ice, and wind as it etches,, shapes, and carves the land into canyons, caves, towers, arches, hoodoos and more. The book shows nature as a sculptor and the ocean as a hammer, working to create natural forms of beauty. It offers a wide range of vocabulary, along with fascinating text and illustrations. text, and pictures. Informative and memorable.

This will be a must-have for my beauty in nature informational book display for fall. The book is about gorgeous natural phenomenon sculpted by erosion. The back matter was very informative and the photographs were breathtaking.

Oh my gosh. This book is beautiful.

I’d love to look at it again and again and share it with my children.

Nature truly is beautiful.

Wow. Double wow. Stunning. I live in Alaska where some of Mother Nature's work is visible just about anywhere but this was like getting a virtual tour of her best work everywhere. Not only are the photographs eye-catching and revealing but the rather lyrical text explains in an easily understandable way what we're seeing and how it was formed.

I honestly didn't expect to read this straight through almost as soon as I'd downloaded it but, well, a sneak peek hooked me. Not sure which photo is my favorite. They're all rather amazing. You can easily visualize some of the results standing in the world's most renowned museums in a reduced form, but the information provided is insightful. Put it together and it had me ready to grab my own camera and head out.

I won't detail the entries more as the blurb and, I'm sure, other reviews will do so. I'll simply say that I was impressed. Be ready to softly repeat "wow" repeatedly as you flip back and forth through the photos. Actually, I found myself so engrossed in them initially that I simply marveled at them first, then again as I went back and read. Whatever works for you.Thanks #NetGalley and #LernerPublishingGroup - #MillbrookPress for allowing me this wistful virtual tour. Now that my camera battery is charging, I'm thinking, hmm, Denali, anyone?