Unearth our planet's glittering treasures—a fascinating book of gems for kids 6 to 9

What do dusty old rocks have to do with the shiny, colorful jewels that you see in rings and necklaces? Everything! Set off on a journey inside Earth and learn the different ways our planet uses rocks and minerals to make gemstones. Discover how some grow in red-hot magma deep underground, while others are made by animals or plants, plus fun facts about their colors, shapes, uses, and more. You'll even learn how to grow your own crystals with sugar and water!

Gems for Kids includes:

• 25 Different stones—Dig in to some of the world's most rare, popular, and colorful gems, from amethyst and opal to pearl and ruby.
• The parts of a gem—Learn how gems are classified by things like color, shape, streak, luster, and parent minerals, and what these properties mean about where the gem came from.
• Earth science basics—Explore the scientific principles behind how rocks form, how gems form inside them, and what makes them so valuable and beautiful.

Ashley Hall is a paleontologist, naturalist, science educator and communicator. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Animal Behavior at Indiana University Bloomington. As Assistant Curator of Paleontology at the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology, she excavated, identified, and helped care for the museum’s fossil collection.