Celebrate the Millennium with Milestones in Space
December is the month of planet discoveries. In 1962, Mariner 2 flew over Venus, sending back information on our warm neighbor. In 1996, the Mars Pathfinder sent its rover on the surface of Mars, sending back over 16,000 pictures and billions of bits of information. To continue this exploration of celestial bodies, we have books that feature the objects found in outer space and even one that focuses on a heavenly body we often overlook-the Earth.
Visit our Themed Reviews section for more space books!
Reviews
Comets
Samantha Bonar
It may sound like a dense topic for a children's book. But Samantha Bonar has made this lofty topic very accessible. Bonar, a writer for Highlights, American Girl, and Boys' Life, blends historical detail and scientific facts in this engaging text. Readers learn what comets are, where they come from, and how they affect us. Well-chosen graphic illustrations provide delightful context and its 8 x 7 format is easy to handle. Also included are wonderful suggestions on where to find out more in books, articles and online sources. With six chapters and a glossary, this book is part of Franklin Watt's First Book series. 1998, Franklin Watts, Ages 8 to 13, $6.95. Reviewer: Dia L. Michels
ISBN: 0-531-15907-8
Comets and Asteroids
Amanda Davis
Comets are no longer feared as harbingers of calamities. We now know that they are celestial bodies made up of dust, ice, and gas and that many of them follow a regular path through our solar system. The explanations in this nonfiction offering are easy to understand and accompanied by full-page, full-color illustrations. Each spread also contains a green fact box for the trivia buffs. There is a glossary and index and the words from the glossary are bolded and spelled phonetically in the body of the text. Part of the "Exploring Space" series, other titles include Black Holes, Our Solar System, Space Ships, Space Stations: Living and Working in Space, and Extraterrestrials: Is There Life in Outer Space? 1997, Rosen, Ages 6 to 9, $15.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
Comets, Meteors and Asteroids
Seymour Simon
Mr. Simon's painstakingly selected, first-rate photographs of stars, galaxies, comets, meteors and asteroids provide a stellar background for descriptions and analogies that transform usually difficult concepts into terms children-and adults-can easily picture. When explaining that the galaxy is mostly empty space, for example, Mr. Simon writes that a dozen tennis balls spread out across the U.S. would be more crowed than most of the stars in the galaxy. He brings the heavens down to earth for readers of all ages. 1994, Morrow, Ages 8 up, $15.00, $14.93, and $5.95. Reviewer: Beverly Kobrin
Destination: JupiterSeymour Simon
In December of 1995, spacecraft Galileo arrived at Jupiter. This planet, the fourth brightest object in the sky, is the largest planet in the solar system. It would take 1300 earths to fill up a hollow Jupiter. This large format picture book, with equally large photographs, gives kids access to the pictures and information obtained from Galileo's orbit around Jupiter. A probe from the spacecraft was sent down into the atmosphere, and it sent back information as it drifted down 100 miles into the atmosphere. Photographs of many of Jupiter's moons show the diverse range of surfaces. This is a fascinating book that conveys a real sense of alien worlds and it will be of interest to kids and adults. 1998, Morrow, Ages 5 up, $16.00. Reviewer: Kristin Harris Earth Explained: A Beginner's Guide to Our Planet
Barbara Taylor
In this well organized reference book, kids learn about the forces inside the earth such as volcanoes, earthquakes, tectonic plate movement, and the outside forces such as temperature, wind and storms. Readers will also develop a better understanding about the impact humans are having on the environment. The text does not overwhelm readers; it is brief and reflects current thinking and theories. The full color illustrations will grab kids' attention, particularly the pictures of casts made from people caught in the volcanic eruption at Pompeii. 1997, Holt, Ages 8 up, $18.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
Let's Look at the PlanetsLaura Driscoll
Illustrated by Dee Christina Mesturini
What is in our universe? This die-cut board book is a very clever and colorful introduction to the planets. The cover is die-cut to reveal our solar system and an index of symbols. The planets and sun are described. Star maps follow, with a description of the Zodiac. Brief explanations of shooting stars, a solar eclipse, and travel to the moon follow. The unique die-cuts and the bright colors make this a very appealing book. 1997, Grosset & Dunlap, Ages 4 to 7, $12.95. Reviewer: Kristin Harris
Mission Earth: Voyage to the Home PlanetThomas D. Jones and June A. English
This book reflects an unusual collaborative work between an astronaut and a science writer. They give us two perspectives on a very special NASA mission-the Mission to Planet Earth. Tom Jones, an astronaut aboard two Space Radar Lab flights, gives a first hand account of the flights, their purpose, tasks, and what it "felt" like to gain a different perspective of our lonely planet. English, who, incidentally, went to elementary school with Jones, introduces the reader to efforts of space agencies around the world to learn more about changes in the Earth's atmosphere and geology, so we can sort out which of those changes are caused by human beings. Striking photographs of clouds, floodplains and typhoons illustrate the text. 1996, Scholastic, Ages 10 up, $16.95. Reviewer: Uma Krishnaswami
The Planet Hunters: The Search for Other WorldsDennis Brindell Fradin
From Copernican and Galilean discoveries to astronomical findings of our decade, Fradin provides the young reader with a panoramic view of questions that have long fascinated human beings. What makes this book particularly interesting is the level of detail. The chapter on the discovery of Pluto, for instance, includes material on Venetia Burney, now eighty, who suggested the name for the new planet. Archival photographs illustrate both astronomical and historical content. This reviewer's only quibble is that the historical background is entirely Eurocentric. It's debatable, for instance, whether "all humanity" believed that "we stood motionless at the center of creation." Front matter includes a list of the numbers used in the book, as well as metric measurements. A bibliography and information table on the nine planets are also provided. 1997, McElderry Books, Ages 10 up, $19.95. Reviewer: Uma Krishnaswami Space
Bobbie Kalman and Niki Walker
Stars, the solar system, the planets, the moon, asteroids, meteors and comets are all discussed in this book, accompanied by detailed color photographs and drawings. The text is simple and concise with glossary words highlighted. A section on what it's like in space answers questions such as how astronauts eat, sleep, and use the toilet without gravity. (Food is dehydrated, and they must be strapped in to sleep and use the toilet!) Additional facts about the book's photos make this a fascinating read as well as a comprehensive resource for the classroom or home library. 1997, Crabtree Publishing, Ages 7 to 10, $5.95. Reviewer: Cheryl Peterson
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added 12/4/99
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If you're interested in reviewing children's and young adult books, then send a resume and writing sample to marilyn@childrenslit.com.