What do ancient reptile fossils have to do with radioactive atoms deep inside the Earth's mantle? What causes earthquakes and volcanic eruptions? Why are there strange creatures living deep beneath the ocean surface, where hot water and chemicals spew out of cracks in the ocean floor? The answer to all of these is the same: plate tectonics. Over the last century, scientists have discovered how heat generated deep inside the Earth drives movements of the mantle and crust - and how in our Solar System, this process is almost unique to our home planet.

All of this is real science, written at a level that kids can read and understand. The text is supplemented with interesting illustrations and photographs to make the science more vivid, appropriate for both standard Kindle and tablet formats. At the end of the book you will find a self-quiz to test your new knowledge, additional activities that build on the science, and a glossary for the scientific terms used in the book.

Judith Hubbard is a geology professor with a PhD from Harvard University and a BS from Caltech - and also two young children. She started the In Depth Science series with the goal of making college-level science accessible to children as young as eight years old. Kids are natural scientists. This series allows kids to explore their interests and understand the natural processes going on all around them.