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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.
(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.
(4)
K-3
Looking Glass Library: The Planets series.
Illustrated by
Scott Burroughs.
In this series, a girl or boy space traveler, accompanied by a pet dog or cat, undertakes a space mission to explore the title planet. The information, though selective, is succinct and easy to understand. Digital cartoon illustrations look 1950s retro-ish. Not a required purchase for libraries, but the format may engage readers to seek out meatier information. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Looking Glass Library: The Planets titles: Your Mission to Mars, Your Mission to Jupiter, Your Mission on Earth, and Your Mission to Mercury.
(4)
K-3
My First Look at Planets series.
These books present basic facts about Venus and Mercury. Though the texts can be confusing ("A long time ago, the sun's wind blew most of Mercury's air away"), children interested in planets will find some solid introductory information. Bright, well-chosen photographs illustrate the books; each also includes a related "Make a Planet" activity. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these My First Look at Planets titles: Mercury and Venus.
216 pp.
| Chelsea
| May, 2006
|
LibraryISBN 0-8160-5193-3$37.50
(3)
YA
Solar System series.
This exhaustive coverage of planetary science includes cutting edge theory as well as established facts about planet formation and features, recent and historical exploration and technical innovations, and related physical science concepts. The complex explanations and diagrams are very sophisticated and require advanced knowledge in science and mathematics to interpret. They will be thoroughly appreciated by those who can handle it. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Solar System titles: Asteroids, Meteorites, and Comets, The Earth and the Moon, Jupiter and Saturn, Mars, The Sun, Mercury, and Venus, and Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and the Outer Solar System.
(3)
YA
Worlds Beyond series.
Careful research, a well-organized text, sidebars of additional information, clearly designed charts/maps, well-chosen photos, and lucid writing make these books fine additions to collections. The historical perspective offered complements the contemporary information well. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Worlds Beyond titles: Mercury and Pluto and Saturn.]
24 pp.
| Creative/Smart Apple
| November, 2002
|
LibraryISBN 1-58340-093-1$$21.35
(3)
K-3
Our Solar System series.
The brevity and image-heavy format of these series books don't reflect their sophisticated content: each book provides information on its subject's discovery, key characteristics, composition, and exploration. Vivid captioned color images, occasionally spanning two pages, reinforce the texts' observations. Interesting facts, such as the length of a day on the featured planet in terms of Earth hours, are scattered throughout. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Our Solar System titles: Jupiter and Mercury.]
64 pp.
| Benchmark
| September, 2002
|
LibraryISBN 0-7614-1403-7$$27.07
(4)
4-6
Blastoff! series.
The books in this series provide somewhat dry descriptions of what is presently known (and calculated) about these planets and the sun. The photographs, illustrations, and diagrams are well chosen and captioned. The few errors are more unfortunate choices of wording rather than misstatements of fact. A list of related websites is appended. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Blastoff! titles: The Sun, Pluto, Uranus, Mercury, and Venus.]
48 pp.
| Enslow
| November, 2001
|
LibraryISBN 0-7660-1512-2$$18.95
(4)
4-6
Countdown to Space series.
This book is full of excellent, well-documented information about Mercury from authoritative sources including the NASA probes. Illustrated with color photos, digitally generated mosaics, and graphics comparing Mercury to other planets, the book also has a double-page list of facts. However, the monotonous and choppy sentences, presumably intended to be helpful to reluctant readers, make the material difficult to assimilate. Bib., glos., ind.
32 pp.
| Lerner
| August, 2000
|
LibraryISBN 0-8225-3904-7$$21.27
(4)
4-6
Planet Library series.
This clearly written series is quite up-to-date and includes many spacecraft discoveries, such as that of extra-solar planets. Each volume contains a few errors, but the diagrams are well done and the photos are generally well chosen and captioned. Glos., ind.
(4)
K-3
Galaxy series.
These are adequate, up-to-date discussions about the nine planets and the sun in our solar system. Color photos and diagrams are well chosen; the stilted texts contain a few questionable or ambiguous word choices but are generally accurate. In addition to a list of Internet sites and addresses, each volume includes a simple activity to demonstrate physical concepts such as magnetic fields or the phases of the moon. Bib., glos., ind.
(3)
K-3
True Book series.
Simply written texts contain up-to-date, accurate descriptions of these three planets, with well-chosen captioned photographs and illustrations. Old ideas about each planet are also covered, along with future plans for exploration of Mars and Mercury. Earth mentions the current worrisome changes in our planet's atmosphere and life. Bib., glos., ind.