Chasing Eruptions: How Volcanologists Maurice and Katia Krafft Helped Save 60,000 Lives-But Lost Their Own

by Curtis Manley, Katherine Roy (Illustrator)

Overview

The gripping story of volcanologists Maurice and Katia Krafft, perfect for armchair adventurers who loved The Mona Lisa Vanishes and Becoming Muhammad Ali. Complete with stunning illustrations from award-winning illustrator, Katherine Roy, and extensive backmatter for school and at-home conversations.

This beautiful biography in verse is about two French scientists who changed what we know about volcanoes. Katia, a curious girl who collected pebbles and dreamed of escaping her small town, grew up just a few miles away from Maurice, a boy who knew more about rocks and minerals than his own teachers. . . . When Katia and Maurice met as college students, they formed The Vulcan Team—named after the Roman god of fire—to observe, investigate, and document one of the most dangerous, natural phenomena on the planet: volcanoes!

With dynamic art from award-winning artist Katherine Roy, Chasing Eruptions traces the legacy of Katia and Maurice Kraffts’ volcanic photographs and films—and how their footage continues to inspire and educate today.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063386297
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/21/2026
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Curtis Manley is the award-winning author of many books, including The Summer Nick Taught His Cats to Read, Shawn Loves Sharks, and Just Right: Searching for the Goldilocks Planet. His books have appeared on ALA Notable Selections and Best of the Year lists and received multiple starred reviews. Curtis was a scientist in a previous life, and his interests range from science and technology to nature to art, haiku, and poetry. He grew up in Pennsylvania and now lives near Seattle with his wife, daughter, and cat.

Katherine Roy is an award-winning and bestselling author and illustrator of science-based books for children, including the Robert F. Sibert Honor Book Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California’s Farallon Islands, How to Be an Elephant: Growing Up in the African Wild, and Making More: How Life Begins. She is also the illustrator of numerous other books, including Otis and Will Discover the Deep and Sea Without a Shore by Barb Rosenstock, Red Rover by Richard Ho, and The Fire of Stars by Kirsten W. Larson. She lives with her husband and sons in western Oregon, where she is busy writing and drawing her next books.