SAMANTHA GROVER
is a soil scientist based at Agribio, Latrobe University’s Centre for Agribioscience in Melbourne. She is also a parent and has combined what she has learned in both jobs to this engaging book that aims to introduce children with the life that lies beneath the ground.
Beautifully illustrated by Camille Heisler, the book is a journey of discovery through the eyes of a boy, James, who discovers soil is more than dirt and mud pies. It is, James learns, home to myriad creatures and layers of complexity.
Grover manages to cover the complexity of the subject, taking in all sorts of topics such as soil particle size, the importance of microbes and minerals to soil health and the roles compost and worms play. The book is a perfect introduction to an often overlooked field of science for children aged six to nine.