(3) 4-6 Alternator Books: Space Exploration series. Each volume profiles an aspect of space exploration, from the numerous Mars missions to the latest telescopes that see into deep space. There are profiles of relevant historical scientific efforts, in-depth explanations of the science and technology, and discussions of what missions and projects are planned for the near-future. A space image, artistic interpretation, or photograph of researchers is found on every page. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Alternator Books: Space Exploration titles: Breakthroughs in Mars Exploration, Breakthroughs in Planet and Comet Research, Breakthroughs in the Search for Extraterrestrial Life, Breakthroughs in Deep Space Science, Breakthroughs in Space Travel, and Breakthroughs in Stars Research.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Jessica Lanan. Manley presents a smart, careful, and thorough discussion of exoplanets. Lanan's illustrations take the concepts to the next level; the choices of scale, color, and detail in her planetary landscapes make visible the text's content. The clever use of a parallel visual narrative, which features a (brown-skinned) girl and her family visiting a planetarium, situates the images of possible other life-supporting worlds in that character's imagination. Timeline, websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2019

(1) K-3 Illustrated by Laurie Keller. Rex and Keller dramatize Pluto's demotion to dwarf planet status in this smart and playful offering of informational comedy. Rex's wry and engaging text is told completely through dialogue among Pluto, the planets, and other celestial bodies; Keller's kinetic mixed-media illustrations include "a bunch of sideline planetary commentary." After receiving "the call" from Earth scientists, a dejected Pluto reluctantly acquiesces to giving a tour of the solar system, since readers "were probably hoping to hang out with a real planet." The remaining eight planets, each with a unique personality and (randomly chosen) gender, are introduced to readers through interesting facts ("If you tried to stand on Jupiter, you'd just fall right through him") and funnily informative jokes ("Neptune is pretty icy. And gassy. I'm not being mean, he just is"). The visually jam-packed pages range from complex panel layouts set against solid white backgrounds to luminous double-page spreads of the immense, maternal Sun. A genuinely moving testimonial by the benevolent Sun extolling the value of Pluto's new role ("You're the planet who doesn't get to be a planet anymore. And people love you for it") beautifully wraps up this expertly crafted ode to Pluto, science, and underdogs everywhere. Back matter consists of solar-system facts and an author's note.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2020

(3) K-3 Seedlings: Planets series. Beginner facts about the planets in our solar system are bookended with a greeting ("Hello, Mars!") and farewell ("Goodbye, Earth!"). The simple sentences are accompanied by images that include familiar photographs of the various planets as well as artistic renditions that effectively convey atmospheric conditions and landscapes. Also available in Spanish. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Seedlings: Planets titles: Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, and Saturn.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Seedlings: Planets series. Beginner facts about the planets in our solar system are bookended with a greeting ("Hello, Mars!") and farewell ("Goodbye, Earth!"). The simple sentences are accompanied by images that include familiar photographs of the various planets as well as artistic renditions that effectively convey atmospheric conditions and landscapes. Also available in Spanish. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Seedlings: Planets titles: Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, and Saturn.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Seedlings: Planets series. Beginner facts about the planets in our solar system are bookended with a greeting ("Hello, Mars!") and farewell ("Goodbye, Earth!"). The simple sentences are accompanied by images that include familiar photographs of the various planets as well as artistic renditions that effectively convey atmospheric conditions and landscapes. Also available in Spanish. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Seedlings: Planets titles: Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, and Saturn.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Seedlings: Planets series. Beginner facts about the planets in our solar system are bookended with a greeting ("Hello, Mars!") and farewell ("Goodbye, Earth!"). The simple sentences are accompanied by images that include familiar photographs of the various planets as well as artistic renditions that effectively convey atmospheric conditions and landscapes. Also available in Spanish. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Seedlings: Planets titles: Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, and Saturn.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Seedlings: Planets series. Beginner facts about the planets in our solar system are bookended with a greeting ("Hello, Mars!") and farewell ("Goodbye, Earth!"). The simple sentences are accompanied by images that include familiar photographs of the various planets as well as artistic renditions that effectively convey atmospheric conditions and landscapes. Also available in Spanish. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Seedlings: Planets titles: Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, and Saturn.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Seedlings: Planets series. Beginner facts about the planets in our solar system are bookended with a greeting ("Hello, Mars!") and farewell ("Goodbye, Earth!"). The simple sentences are accompanied by images that include familiar photographs of the various planets as well as artistic renditions that effectively convey atmospheric conditions and landscapes. Also available in Spanish. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Seedlings: Planets titles: Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, and Saturn.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) 4-6 With Jennifer Swanson. Planetary geologist Ehlmann and her cartoon superhero alter-ego, Dr. E, take readers on a tour of the solar system. The well-organized chapters each start with a two-page comic, then present the latest findings from planetary science research and space exploration. Also included are numerous profiles of contemporary and historical scientists, do-at-home experiments, diagrams, and photos of planets and space technology. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) K-3 Galaxies presents a guide to our universe of stars and galaxies and includes a rudimentary history of astronomy and telescopes. Planets introduces each planet and the basic concepts of planetary motion. While these two lightly updated editions feature Gibbons's inviting, scientifically rigorous illustrations, two depictions of the solar system in Galaxies still show the outdated nine-planet model. Review covers these titles: Galaxies, Galaxies! and The Planets.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Ana Djordjevic. Each double-page spread features a planet, asteroid, nebula, or other astronomical object (plus the ISS and the Webb Space Telescope), in order of its distance from Earth. A list of stats for each covers size, weight, surface temperature, and other attributes. Large illustrations with a retro aesthetic, diagrams, and text boxes provide additional information for a browsable, if somewhat crowded, presentation. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) YA An intercepted transmission sends scholars and scavengers from Earth to explore the abandoned planet Gaia. Despite opposing missions, scholar Jules and scavenger Mia must join forces to beat an alien temple's puzzles and traps. Their smart-guy/tough-girl romance feels rushed, but readers may enjoy cracking puzzles alongside the protagonists, and a cliffhanger ending will leave readers anticipating the next installment.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(3) K-3 Seedlings: Planets series. Beginner facts about the planets in our solar system are bookended with a greeting ("Hello, Mars!") and farewell ("Goodbye, Earth!"). The simple sentences are accompanied by images that include familiar photographs of the various planets as well as artistic renditions that effectively convey atmospheric conditions and landscapes. Also available in Spanish. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Seedlings: Planets titles: Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, and Saturn.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Seedlings: Planets series. Beginner facts about the planets in our solar system are bookended with a greeting ("Hello, Mars!") and farewell ("Goodbye, Earth!"). The simple sentences are accompanied by images that include familiar photographs of the various planets as well as artistic renditions that effectively convey atmospheric conditions and landscapes. Also available in Spanish. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Seedlings: Planets titles: Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Uranus, Venus, Neptune, and Saturn.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 In this humorous presentation of solar system facts, the sun is a "star" (as in celebrity) surrounded by admiring planet "fans." The anthropomorphized planets, amusingly illustrated as cute emojis, joke their way through definitions that include day and night, the seasons, the water cycle, and photosynthesis. Additional facts and definitions are found on the closing endpapers. Glos.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Could life exist on other planets? Simon explains how new techniques and technologies have accelerated astronomers' search for Milky Way planets beyond our own solar system, leading to the discovery of planets that might be within the "habitable zone" of distant stars. Large, excellent images of telescopes, near and distant planets, and the imagined surfaces of possible future discoveries are included. Websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Melanie Demmer. This picture book approaches the science behind Pluto's demotion to dwarf planet with cartoonish art and humor. Once happily in the "famous nine," Pluto is crushed to hear from smug Saturn and Jupiter that he's deemed too small to remain a planet. A search for acceptance among asteroids and comets proves fruitless until Pluto finds his people, so to speak. An endnote adds scientific context to the silliness.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) 4-6 Astronomer Aguilar provides a fresh look at the solar system, focusing on features that interest researchers. In-depth discussions about the system's formation, the importance of water, and possible life beyond Earth are woven into the descriptions of planets and moons. Colorful, dramatic images of planetary surfaces and outer space are included. Instructions for building a replica Mars volcano are appended. Reading list, websites. Ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) 4-6 George's Secret Key series. Illustrated by Garry Parsons. This fifth installment finds friends George and Annie at an elite space camp battling an evil villain intent on ruling the solar system. Character development and plot come second to the science, but lots of danger, robots, and a peek at Jupiter's moon Europa should hold series fans' attention. As usual, relevant scientific essays appear throughout but may be beyond some readers' interest level.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler