★ "A deceptively simple, visually appealing, comprehensive explanation of volcanoes. . . . The straightforward, concise prose will be easy for young readers to follow. As always, Gibbons manages to present a great deal of information in a compact form. Erupt into applause for this picture book of the first magma-tude."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
"Gibbons applies her signature combination of impeccably accurate definitions and friendly, colorful illustrations to the topic of volcanoes and volcanic eruptions. . . . Each illustration is filled with details: cross-sections of volcano cones show their layering, and insets, captions and notations add even more terminology for curious readers. "—The Horn Book
"Gibbons' distinctive watercolor, ink, and colored-pencil illustrations dominate, providing a pleasing mix of landscapes, infographic charts and maps, labeled cutaway views, and creatively designed visual sidebars. . . . Readers will particularly be drawn to the red, yellow, orange, white, and gray eruptions depicted on most pages, and will grasp the differences between, for example, shield and cinder cone volcanoes."—Booklist
"With incandescent illustrations of the hot topic she’s pursuing, the prolific, professional Gibbons gives readers the basics of volcanoes and so much more. . . . Kids will love the devil in the details, and take away the pure excitement that accompanies this subject."—School Library Journal