Gopher to the Rescue!
A Volcano Recovery Story
Terry Catasus Laurie O'Keefe

SylvanDell
2012 / ISBN 9781607181415
Picture book, gophers, Mt. St. Helens (ages 4-9)
Amazon

Reviewed by Bob Walch

After the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980, scientists studied how the mountain and surrounding countryside were able to recover. This fictionalized tale explains the role the gopher played in this process.

Since they were living underground, gopher colonies survived the eruption and aftermath. As they continued to dig and create tunnels the gopher not only mixed soil with crusty ash, thus creating a life-giving mix of nutrients for new plants to grow, but their tunnels also provided a safe place for other survivors like frogs and salamanders.

Besides explaining how life returned to the area over time, this informative picture book also includes four pages of learning activities. This book would be an excellent resource at home or in the classroom for teaching science. Some of the issues that a parent or teacher can expand upon include volcanoes, natural disasters and habitat changes and the role animals play in a healthy environment.