(3) K-3 Illustrated by Colin Jack. In this Dragons from Mars follow-up, young Nathaniel informs the two mythical visitors to Earth that it's their first day of school, too. Once again, Aronson's rhymes are rock-solid ("Maybe they've never seen dragons before. / What if they're frightened and run for the door?"), and the dragons, given an appealingly cartoonish mien, can stand in for anyone with new-situation anxiety.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Katherine Roy. An informative and surprisingly tender portrayal of NASA's most recent Mars rover. Poetic and personified text labels the rover as "curious," "thirsty," and even "lonely." Painterly illustrations are both scientifically accurate and emotive, often framing Curiosity as if for a portrait and subtly conveying human-like gestures. The narrator's reveal is a sweet surprise, enhancing this unusual space book's appeal. A detailed diagram of Curiosity, Mars facts, and additional information about Curiosity are appended. Websites. Bib.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2019

(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

(4) K-3 Dash!: Planets series. Facts about the eight planets are conveyed in simple choppy sentences constructed for more-advanced beginning readers. Each book includes basic stats about the planet's size, distance from Earth, average temperature, as well as distinctive features such as the storms of Neptune or the crater fields of Mercury. A summary of exploratory missions is included. Images from those missions, as well as colorful artistic renditions, illustrate the spreads. Glos., ind. Review covers these Dash!: Planets titles: Earth, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus, and Venus.

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 American Museum of Natural History series. These volumes highlight the science and technology of the International Space Station (Life in Space) and rover explorations of Mars (Mission to Mars). Clear texts explain why these missions have been undertaken and how findings contribute to our knowledge of planets and human endurance in space. Striking images show the surface of Mars, a variety of spacecraft, and astronauts at work. Ind. Review covers these titles: Mission to Mars and Life in Space.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(4) 4-6 Sci-Finity: Redworld series. Illustrated by Tomislav Tikulin. By 2335, Earth's resources have dwindled, so Belle Song and her family immigrate to the newest frontier: Mars. People, homes, weather, and school are strange, but Belle's spunk earns her new friends. Collins superficially touches on timely issues such as refugees, diversity, and natural resource conservation in these facile but quick-paced sci-fi novellas. Full-page illustrations and diary entries appear occasionally. Glos. Review covers these Sci-Finity: Redworld titles: Asylum, Homestead, Legacy, Outcry, Raiders, and Tharsis City.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Sci-Finity: Redworld series. Illustrated by Tomislav Tikulin. By 2335, Earth's resources have dwindled, so Belle Song and her family immigrate to the newest frontier: Mars. People, homes, weather, and school are strange, but Belle's spunk earns her new friends. Collins superficially touches on timely issues such as refugees, diversity, and natural resource conservation in these facile but quick-paced sci-fi novellas. Full-page illustrations and diary entries appear occasionally. Glos. Review covers these Sci-Finity: Redworld titles: Asylum, Homestead, Legacy, Outcry, Raiders, and Tharsis City.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Bob Kolar. The familiar children's song is given a space-exploration twist as readers learn what a trip to Mars would entail. Kolar's blocky digital illustrations include three vertical spreads of rockets and spaceships and three spreads of cheerful child-astronauts floating in zero gravity alongside upside-down text. Each portion of the rhyme is accompanied by scientific facts, lending information to the fun. More about Mars exploration is appended. Websites.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) YA Adventures of Arabella Ashby series. In the conclusion to this steampunk/alternate-history trilogy, England has defeated Napoleon on Venus and now intends to conquer Mars. Heroine Arabella is of English descent but was raised on Mars, so even though her new husband is leading England's mission, she allies herself with the native Martians. Levine once again successfully injects commentary on colonialism into an action-packed science-fiction tale.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) K-3 The Mars rover Curiosity narrates this informative and handsome nonfiction picture book covering every aspect of its development, testing, launch, and exploration of the red planet. Mixed-media illustrations have a retro feel, but the book's information is forward-looking. An especially striking vertical spread depicts the Atlas V rocket launch, which started Curiosity on its journey; captioned illustrations add extensive details throughout. Timeline. Glos.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) 4-6 In a future when an asteroid has moved Earth closer to the sun, Astra is grieving her mother--a scientist who died in an accident on Mars--while Jameson's dad is currently on a Mars mission. A communication device keeps Jameson in contact with his father, but the device seems to be hiding the truth. Sympathetic characters and vivid descriptions of the sun-scorched world enhance the compelling story.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(1) K-3 A little astronaut brings chocolate cupcakes to Mars but realizes, "I don't think I'll find anybody to eat them." The story depends on a repeated visual joke--the astronaut keeps missing the Martian in the background--and the humor continues throughout. Agee's world is one in which the emotional life of the characters is clear with the slightest raise of an eyebrow.

Reviewer: Robin L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2017

(2) YA In 2065, sixteen-year-old Adri Ortiz relocates to Kansas for training as a Mars colonist; moving into an old family farmhouse, she discovers the Dust Bowl–era journal of a woman named Cathy and a collection of WWI letters sent to Cathy's mother. Adri becomes engrossed in these more-than-a-century-old strangers' lives--even as she prepares to leave Earth forever. Anderson vividly captures each of the eras in three distinctive narratives.

Reviewer: Sarah Rettger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2017

(4) K-3 Cloverleaf Books: Space Adventures series. Illustrated by Mike Moran. This series combines bright, cartoony illustrations with slight framing stories both imaginative and fact-filled. In each title, a child narrates his or her imagined outer space adventure, including astronomical facts about the destination. The illustrations depict diverse characters of both genders. While contrived, the series' balance of science with fantasy is successful enough. Each book includes a simple activity. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Cloverleaf books: Space Adventures titles: To Mars!, To Planet Earth!, To the Stars!, To the Moon!, and To the Sun!.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) 4-6 The CatStronauts undertake a dangerous mission to install solar panels on the moon in hopes of averting a global energy crisis (Moon), then compete against other countries' astronauts in a space race (Mars). Both times, loyalty and teamwork--and snacks, and a clever robot--save the day. Simple dialogue (in small print), personality-rich illustrations, and plenty of humor make for engaging, unabashedly silly graphic-novel adventures. Review covers these CatStronauts titles: Mission Moon and Race to Mars.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) 4-6 Sci-Finity: Redworld series. Illustrated by Tomislav Tikulin. By 2335, Earth's resources have dwindled, so Belle Song and her family immigrate to the newest frontier: Mars. People, homes, weather, and school are strange, but Belle's spunk earns her new friends. Collins superficially touches on timely issues such as refugees, diversity, and natural resource conservation in these facile but quick-paced sci-fi novellas. Full-page illustrations and diary entries appear occasionally. Glos. Review covers these Sci-Finity: Redworld titles: Asylum, Homestead, Legacy, Outcry, Raiders, and Tharsis City.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Sci-Finity: Redworld series. Illustrated by Tomislav Tikulin. By 2335, Earth's resources have dwindled, so Belle Song and her family immigrate to the newest frontier: Mars. People, homes, weather, and school are strange, but Belle's spunk earns her new friends. Collins superficially touches on timely issues such as refugees, diversity, and natural resource conservation in these facile but quick-paced sci-fi novellas. Full-page illustrations and diary entries appear occasionally. Glos. Review covers these Sci-Finity: Redworld titles: Asylum, Homestead, Legacy, Outcry, Raiders, and Tharsis City.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Sci-Finity: Redworld series. Illustrated by Tomislav Tikulin. By 2335, Earth's resources have dwindled, so Belle Song and her family immigrate to the newest frontier: Mars. People, homes, weather, and school are strange, but Belle's spunk earns her new friends. Collins superficially touches on timely issues such as refugees, diversity, and natural resource conservation in these facile but quick-paced sci-fi novellas. Full-page illustrations and diary entries appear occasionally. Glos. Review covers these Sci-Finity: Redworld titles: Asylum, Homestead, Legacy, Outcry, Raiders, and Tharsis City.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Sci-Finity: Redworld series. Illustrated by Tomislav Tikulin. By 2335, Earth's resources have dwindled, so Belle Song and her family immigrate to the newest frontier: Mars. People, homes, weather, and school are strange, but Belle's spunk earns her new friends. Collins superficially touches on timely issues such as refugees, diversity, and natural resource conservation in these facile but quick-paced sci-fi novellas. Full-page illustrations and diary entries appear occasionally. Glos. Review covers these Sci-Finity: Redworld titles: Asylum, Homestead, Legacy, Outcry, Raiders, and Tharsis City.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters