Whether it's the earthquakes shaking southern California or hurricanes whipping up and down the East Coast, natural disasters demand our attention, whether we like it or not -- and for good reason. Within a single moment, they can change our lives, without much effort. But why do these strange phenomena occur? Can they be predicted? Young readers will be intrigued by Natural Disasters as they discover for themselves how likely Earth is to be hit by an asteroid, how earthquakes are detected, and how plagues are created. Written in a simple prose style coupled with stunning photographs, this series accomplishes its purpose of answering the multitude of questions that fill children's heads when they hear about natural disasters.Boils. Leprosy. Locusts. Just thinking of the word "plagues" conjures up many images, most of them unpleasant. But plagues aren't found only in Biblical times; they exist today, in such places as Africa, Australia, and many others. In Plagues, young readers will discover the history of plagues, from the time of Moses to the bubonic plague that devastated Europe in the fourteenth century. A word of warning: Plagues is so full of valuable and interesting information, you'll want to share it with everyone. In fact, we'd say it's contagious