MOUNTAINS

In the trademark Simon style, carefully selected color photos (including some by the author and five by the noted Galen Rowell), drawings, and a clear and informative text tell the story of Earth's mountains: their formation, relative sizes, ecology, and influence on weather. A particularly striking NASA photo shows the stark contrast between the snow-covered Himalayas and India's fertile plains, which they help to water. Other photos depict a particular type of mountain or simply arrest the reader with their splendor and scope. Simon may have done more than any other living author to help us understand and appreciate the beauty of our planet and our universe; this is a fine addition to his collection. (Nonfiction. 8+)