Hoffman looks at how earth, fire, water and air have been a force on earth and fuel for human imagination throughout time. Exploring history, folklore and customs of cultures around the world, as well as scientific and environmental perspectives, she looks at each of the elements in turn, acknowledging their innate power and celebrating the ideas they have inspired. Her narrative is set against Ray's exquisite illustrations: burnished, beautifully detailed expressions of nature's power and the creativity of the human mind. (Ages 8-14)