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4-6
Warga (Other Words for Home, rev. 7/19; The Shape of Thunder, rev. 5/21) imagines a sentient space rover with human emotions who is embarking on a perilous one-way trip to Mars. Resilience (Res for short) narrates much of the book and has profound conversations about life with his companion drone and a nearby satellite. Interspersed throughout are letters written to Res by Sophie, the daughter of Rania, one of Res's programmers. Res sets off on an exploration that will thrill fans of both adventure and robot stories and also provide intellectual sustenance for the deep thinkers, with the novel asking existential questions such as: where do memories and experiences go when we die? Looking at the remains of a broken-down rover, Res wonders, "Are we all going to end up just like this?" Through the character of a robot who has feelings and self-awareness, Warga probes issues of identity, attachment, and the purpose of life, offering readers an unusual but heartfelt example of the importance of staying true to yourself, quirks and all.
Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam
| Horn Book Magazine Issue:
November, 2022
32 pp.
| Sterling
| February, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4549-2351-0$16.95
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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.
56 pp.
| Candlewick
| March, 2018
|
TradeISBN 978-0-7636-9504-0$22.99
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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.
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4-6
The New Horizons spacecraft (launched in 2006) gathered data that has greatly enhanced our knowledge of dwarf planet Pluto. Scott interweaves explanations of solar system science, a history of Pluto and the Kuiper belt, background on the spacecraft's design and designers, and where the mission heads next. Amazing images of volcanic activity, glaciers, and craters provide evidence of Pluto's dynamic surface. Reading list, websites. Ind.
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K-3
Xtreme Spacecraft series.
These books for mid-elementary space enthusiasts profile prominent missions as well as the planets, stars, and technologies they studied. Each volume explains the purpose of the mission, describes the launch, then highlights some of the major findings. Photos of the spacecrafts and diagrams (with tiny details and -type) illustrate the brief texts; "xtreme" facts about the solar system appear in sidebars. Glos., ind. Review covers these Xtreme Spacecraft titles: Cassini, Curiosity Rover, Hubble Space Telescope, International Space Station, New Horizons, and Rosetta.
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4-6
Space Discovery Guides series.
These are informative accounts of the people and technologies of space exploration and objects of their study. Numerous recent examples along with historical details explain topics such as space junk, spacecraft missions, and private companies pursuing space tourism. Helpful diagrams and good captioned photographs of scientific work on Earth and in space are included. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Space Discovery Guides titles: Astronauts, Garbage in Space, Private Space Travel, Pluto, and Mars Missions.
(3)
K-3
Siy's conversational narrative covers the major findings of the two Voyager spacecraft, still going since their launch in 1977. Each chapter features historical information about an outer planet's discovery, along with the data from Voyager 1 and 2 that has confirmed early hypotheses and added to our knowledge. The text includes excellent photos, with many taken from the Voyager missions. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.
24 pp.
| Child's
| January, 2016
|
LibraryISBN 978-1634074803$18.95
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4-6
Wonders of Space series.
Accounts of major events in space exploration--including the historic Apollo 11 moon landing, Voyager probes, Mars rovers, and Hubble telescope, as well as recent missions to Saturn and Pluto--are presented in short narrative formats, with numerous quotes from those involved in the projects. Color photographs of planets, astronauts and scientists, and space technology effectively supplement the texts. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Wonders of Space titles: Exploring Beyond Our Solar System, The First Moon Landing, The Mars Rovers, The International Space Station, Space Missions of the 21st Century, and The [cf4]Voyager[cf3] Space Probes.
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4-6
Connect: Exploring Space and Beyond series.
Case studies of the 2003 Columbia disaster and recent Mars rovers expeditions provide starting points for discussion of the technological challenges of space exploration, and the ethics of sending people into space. The books cover the scientific goals for each mission, including recent exploration of the outer planets. Color photographs from the missions provide important details; Shuttle contains a timeline. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Exploring Space and Beyond titles: Future Explorers and Shuttle in the Sky.
32 pp.
| Lerner
| May, 2014
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4677-4055-5$25.26
|
EbookISBN 978-1-4677-4692-2
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K-3
Lightning Bolt Books: Robots Everywhere! series.
In this high-interest series, simple text defines and then expands on each titular robot type. Though easy to understand, the prose often lacks clarifying transitions, and the authors regularly use the term scientists when the more accurate word would be engineers. However, colorful photos lavishly illustrate concepts, and captions and callout labels are well placed. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Lightning Bolt Books: Robots Everywhere! titles: Helper Robots, Robots in Space, Robots at Home, and Weather Robots.
112 pp.
| Twenty-First Century
| November, 2007
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-8225-7154-4$31.93
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4-6
Space Innovations series.
These books are packed with information about the history, technology, pioneers, and applications of their subjects. Busy pages include text, photographs, sidebars, and diagrams, all set against monochromatic backgrounds; some of the text and photos are common to both books. The information--from astronomy's beginnings in China to the next generation of space telescopes--is accurate and focused. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Space Innovations titles: Rockets and Satellites.
(4)
K-3
See More Readers series.
This book provides basic information about the history of space travel, the vehicles and equipment astronauts use, and the work of satellites. The clear photographs lack captions, which often makes it difficult to interpret the pictures, and independent readers may be left with some unanswered questions, but, overall, this is an adequate introduction to astronautics.
48 pp.
| Enslow
| September, 2000
|
LibraryISBN 0-7660-1303-0$$18.95
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4-6
Countdown to Space series.
These books offer histories of some of the space devices developed for military and scientific purposes during the space age. Spacecraft looks at recent missions to four planets; Spy discusses the U.S. and Soviet space race and improvements to instruments. Well-captioned color photographs accompany both texts. A list of Internet addresses is appended to each book. Bib., glos., ind.
48 pp.
| Enslow
| February, 1999
|
LibraryISBN 0-7660-1119-4$$18.95
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4-6
Countdown to Space series.
For the most part, these six books take a historical rather than a scientific look at various aspects of the U.S. space program. Mars and Moon present possible scenarios for future astronautic missions. Cole covers both the rewards and the dangers of space travel. The accessible texts are accompanied by plenty of well-chosen and well-captioned photos and diagrams. Bib., glos., ind.
48 pp.
| Enslow
| January, 1999
|
LibraryISBN 0-7660-1121-6$$18.95
(3)
4-6
Countdown to Space series.
For the most part, these six books take a historical rather than a scientific look at various aspects of the U.S. space program. Mars and Moon present possible scenarios for future astronautic missions. Cole covers both the rewards and the dangers of space travel. The accessible texts are accompanied by plenty of well-chosen and well-captioned photos and diagrams. Bib., glos., ind.