Kate Allex Fox does a brilliant job with this picture book! There is so much knowledge and facts to absorb in this beautifully illustrated book! The pacing of the text is simple, the facts shared are not overwhelming, and the respective diagrams, along with the richly-colored illustrations by Erin Brown, with so many details, bring the whole book together beautifully! I loved this and learned a lot of new things about the Earth and its crust. There is also an activity page and a glossary to continue discussions about the surface of the Earth!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fox does an amazing job balancing engagement and excitement with accessible facts and supporting information. This balance between gorgeous illustrations and engaging story and factual information helps the two work together and encourage learning. The illustrations are not only striking but really help readers understand complex ideas (such as crust, mantle, etc.). I also love the representation in this book -- there's a Black female scientist in the book, which unfortunately is not the norm. The author also has a great section at the back that includes a glossary, information about the scientific method, and a list of related readings and where the information in the book came from. This is not only so helpful to the reader but also exemplifies the foundational elements of being a scientist. This would not only be a fantastic addition to any public or school library (elementary and secondary) but also a great resource for science teachers at all levels (elementary through secondary). It would also be a great gift for any science/earth lover as well. Highly recommend! Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

Scratching the Surface is an excellent book filled with an abundance of information and colorful illustrations.

Including a lot of factual information about the Earth, while also putting it into perspective with information that children will already know (eg, comparing the earths core temperature to baking cookies). I really enjoyed how the author also mentioned that there’s still a lot we don’t know. There’s a lot of room for children to explore their curiosity, as a lot of the info is surface level to adults.

This charming picture book about what we know - and don't know - about the earth's structure is one I wish I'd had when I was teaching! The illustrations practically force you to pick it up and look inside, and keep those pages turning. Their dramatic colors and variety drew me back several times after I'd finished, just to look at them more closely.

The text gives a simple introduction to the various layers that make up our earth and includes some details that will impress children. Did you realize, for instance, that the crust can reach 750 degrees, twice as hot as an oven baking cookies? That's an idea kids can relate to. I also appreciate the author pointing out that there's a lot we don't know about the earth, and our knowledge is always changing. The fact that scientists strive to learn more, but don't always get the facts right, is important for everyone to realize. And, as this book says, that leaves room for scientists of the future to correct our mistakes and add to our knowledge.

This is a lovely, informative, and useful book that deserves a place in schools, libraries, and homes.

Thank you to Capstone, the author, and NetGalley for making a copy of this available for me to review.

A delightfully informative and fun narrative non-fiction picture book, that takes readers on a scientific exploration through the Earth’s layers.

The lyrical style makes this a brilliant story to read aloud, to ignite curiosity and wonder for children of varying ages. The colourful illustrations beautifully complement the child-friendly explanations, offering something for both younger and older readers.

With many thanks to Capstone, Kate Allen Fox and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this e-ARC.

This book would be a wonderful gift for any young and curious minds. It would also be a brilliant addition to any school or public library, particularly as a wonderful introduction to Earth science.

I am excited to add this book to our home library!

This book was really fun to dig into (pun intended). I loved the illustrations. I think kids will dig this one as much as I did. Hah! If you ever do an earth science lesson or teach ES, this is perfect and beautiful!

I really enjoyed this book! I think children would be engaged and curious from beginning to end. I thought the facts were pretty interesting. While I read, I was not paying attention to the illustrations because I was so intrigued. I had to go back to get a better look. The illustrations are colorful and fun, while also being informative. I thought they offered a simple visual for young minds. I think this book could be read to younger and older children, and all could gain some something from the illustrations and text. I think the text contains some deeper knowledge, but is simple enough and to the point younger children would understand. Overall, I thought this book was great! I will be adding it to my 2nd grade classroom library!

Thank you Kate Allen Fox and Capstone Editions for for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book! This review was written voluntarily and all opinions are my own.

"Scratching the Surface" was a delight to read from beginning to end, and I was hooked by the line:

"Hidden inside our familiar planet are places unfamiliar and unforgiving, unseen and unsurvivable, unknown...but maybe not unknowable.

The author does a wonderful job of providing scientific facts with the truth that our earth is still very much a mystery. We know certain things to be true, but further scientific research most likely will prove us wrong in many ways. However, because of what we know about the earth, it's core, and the way each part works together to give us life, we have the ability to be human, which also includes making mistakes. The information is somewhat surface level, but leaves a lot of room for curiosity, and is a good introduction text for any young child who shows interest in learning more about what is under the Earth's surface.

This would make a great addition to any classroom/school library, and would be a wonderful supplemental/introductory text for an earth science unit. I will definitely be recommending this to my classroom teachers.

This is a great resource for teachers and children interested in exploring the layers of the Earth. The descriptions are kid friendly and informative. The illustrations are lovely and a great visual. I love how the author encourages students to wonder and think like scientists. She is candid that science changes as new discoveries are made and encourages children to become to scientists to discover new things.

Thanks to NetGalley and Capstone for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I recognize the author from a couple of her books in my classroom, so I was excited to read this and was not disappointed. With fun illustrations that show the different layers of the Earth, the author teaches a lot about science while still telling a story. I am happy to add this to my collection of informational books about science.

I received an ARC of this children's book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a wonderful book. The illustrations are beautifully done and the text is informative while still interesting!

This book seems a bit confused about what age group it's intended for. The length and illustrations suggest it's for younger children, but most of the text is better for older kids. Some of the writing is almost prose, and there are full paragraph captions. The illustrations are cute, and the information is a good introduction for little scientists.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Wonderfully accessible way of presenting such a interesting topic. I love how the upper narration of the book presents the information in a simple way, yet there are paragraphs with deeper knowledge on the different layers.

Thank you, Capstone, NetGalley, and Kate Allen Fox for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Scratching the surface was fun, informative, and beautifully illustrated. I love that there are some great vocabulary words, and enough information to be suited for older children, but with the great illustrations and questions throughout the book, there are many talking points for younger learners as well. As a preschool teacher, I could see my students enjoying this!

This is such a beautifully illustrated book and a wonderful introduction to earth science. I loved this kind of science best when I was in school, and this could encourage other kids to learn more.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

This was a great read! Perfect for kids! The text was easy to understand yet thought provoking, informational but still a fun read that keeps kids attention and the illustrations were well done too. I learned something new about the earth’s crust that I’d never even knew before!
This is a book I will definitely be adding as a small supplement to our homeschooling when it’s officially published. I’d recommend this to anyone who wants to enrich their kids learning experience in a fun and enjoyable way!
Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Allen Fox and the publisher Capstone for the advanced copy!

Netgalley ARC - This is fantastic! I think the text is easy to follow and strikes a good balance of information and more flowery, sensory-engaging language. The art is really really beautiful!

Informative, engaging, and really pretty to look at, this is about all you could want out of an nonfiction children's book.

A novel geared toward younger grades that is the perfect introduction of the basics of geology and the layers of the earth. It explains some complicated principles in accessible language and its well-done and visually rich illustrations provide more context and interest in the information it shares. My children particularly liked seeing the cross sections of layers and gaining insight to what's going on below the earth's surface - concepts that may not have really occurred to my younger ones just yet. The language is prosaic and has touches of whimsy here and there, making it one of those bedtime stories that parents don't mind reading to their kids on repeat at bedtime for days or weeks on end.

I’m going to say right off the top that this gorgeously illustrated STEM book belongs in every elementary and middle school classroom. Pre-order this now so you have it when school starts in the autumn!

This book is a fantastic, easy-to-understand way to teach kids about what’s beneath our feet. From the Earth’s crust to the inner core, readers will learn about the materials that make up our planet, like granite, basalt, magma, carbon, iron, and nickel.

While nothing is overly complicated, the book does sprinkle in some technical terms like magnetic field, radiation, heat, pressure, plate tectonics, and temperature. These words can become great learning opportunities when a parent or teacher reads along with a child.

The book is also packed with lots of cool facts… or maybe I should say “hot” facts. My favorite is that the temperature of earth’s inner core is estimated to reach almost 10,000°F (5,500°C)!

Understanding some basic knowledge about Earth is a good thing. As a kid, I would have absolutely adored this book.

Thank you @netgalley and Capstone for the eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.