9The world starts shaking. Cups and plates rattle in cupboards. Books fall off of shelves. ItХs an earthquake These natural disasters do billions of dollars worth of damage every year. But scientists still cannot predict them. This low-level text introduces how earthquakes form, the damage they cause, and how their damage can be prevented. Special features such as a map, a formation diagram, and a Richter scale chart introduce the key concepts of these powerful disasters to young readers.