How To Make a Mountain: in Just 9 Simple Steps and Only 100 Million Years! Written by Amy Huntington and illustrated by Nancy Lemon. Chronicle, Raincoast. 2022. $25.99 ages 9 and up

 

"When continents collide, rock along the edge
can crumple up. Think of your continent like 
a rug. If you push the rug toward the center, it will 
crumple into folds. Those are your mountains. 

Except this isn't a rug. It's solid rock. 
And this is a do-it-yourself project, 
so you will be doing the crumpling. 

                       Ready?"

While it may only take nine steps start to finish to make a mountain, those set steps will take millions of years to complete the task. An unseen narrator takes the role of guiding three characters on an often-arduous journey from rock to mountain. A young girl, a raccoon and a woodpecker are companions for the long and demanding adventure. 

It's quite the challenge, and begins with finding exactly the right rock for the job. It must be BIG! Once found, that rock must go through many movements and changes as continents collide and even crumple. That work is an assignment for the girl; not easy by any means. When the mountain range is finally created, there is even more work to be done. Water and weathering are needed to create interest in the mountainous shapes. Much has yet to happen, which is what takes ALL the time. 

The design and organization, the comparisons used, and hands-on activities included help with understanding this complex process. Illustrations created in pencil and gouache, then finished digitally, help readers see how the mountain forms from one page to the next through all nine steps. Each image is a double-page spread that details the formation over countless years. In the end, a mountain has been built to become its own spectacular habitat, with growth from bottom to top - deciduous forests at the bottom, conifer forests, alpine meadows and moss and lichens at the very top. 

Now, comes the time to enjoy and protect it. There is still work to be done in keeping it healthy and welcoming for all visitors. 

Back matter includes a glossary of mountain features. In an afterword, the story of the Earth's growth and continued development is explained. There will always be changes as the years pass by.