As a digital subscriber, you’ll receive unlimited access to Horn Book web exclusives and extensive archives, as well as access to our highly searchable Guide/Reviews Database.
To access other site content, visit The Horn Book homepage.
To continue you need an active subscription to hbook.com.
Subscribe now to gain immediate access to everything hbook.com has to offer, as well as our highly searchable Guide/Reviews Database, which contains tens of thousands of short, critical reviews of books published in the United States for young people.
Thank you for registering. To have the latest stories delivered to your inbox, select as many free newsletters as you like below.
No thanks. Return to article
(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.
(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
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.
24 pp.
| Child's
| January, 2016
|
LibraryISBN 978-1634074797$18.95
(3)
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.
(3)
K-3
Smithsonian: Planets series.
These books for second through fourth graders include basic facts about planets in our solar system, accompanied by excellent images from the latest planetary explorations. Additional considerations of "secrets"--the unknowns and puzzles that guide current scientific inquiry--illustrate the constantly changing understanding of astronomers, both historical and present-day. Critical thinking questions are appended. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Smithsonian: Planets titles: The Secrets of Neptune, The Secrets of Earth, and The Secrets of Saturn.
48 pp.
| Lerner
| August, 2009
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-7613-4154-3$26.60
(4)
K-3
Early Bird Astronomy series.
Short, accessible chapters offer an introduction to planets. Each planet's position in the solar system is noted, with particular information paid to its unique features (e.g., Saturn's rings, Jupiter's clouds). Accurate information about data-gathering equipment such as the Voyagers is also included. Colorful captioned illustrations (some shared within the series) and less effective stock photos illustrate the texts. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Early Bird Astronomy titles: Jupiter, Pluto, Saturn, and Earth.
220 pp.
| Chelsea
| May, 2006
|
LibraryISBN 0-8160-5196-8$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)
4-6
Isaac Asimov biblioteca del universo del siglo XXI: El sisteme solar series.
The straightforward Spanish translations of these revised books about planets in the solar system convey their information clearly. The open design incorporates well-chosen photos and helpful diagrams. There are six other spring 2004 books in this series. Directories, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Isaac Asimov biblioteca del universo del siglo XXI: El sisteme solar titles: Asteroides, El Sol, La Tierra, Marte, Plutón y Caronte, and Saturno.
32 pp.
| Lerner
| August, 2003
|
LibraryISBN 0-8225-4653-1$$22.60
(4)
K-3
Our Universe series.
Illustrated with color photos, each of these small, square books presents basic facts about a particular body in the solar system (or, in the case of Solar System, the nine planets). Independent readers would be much better served by Seymour Simon's series on the planets, but these brief volumes provide encyclopedia-style information in an easy-to-digest manner. There are seven other fall 2003 books in this series. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Our Universe titles: Jupiter, Mars, The Moon, Pluto, Saturn, and The Solar System.]
(3)
YA
Worlds Beyond series.
Careful research, a well-organized text, sidebars of additional information, clearly designed charts/maps, well-chosen photos, and lucid writing make these books fine additions to collections. The historical perspective offered complements the contemporary information well. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Worlds Beyond titles: Mercury and Pluto and Saturn.]
48 pp.
| Enslow
| July, 2002
|
LibraryISBN 0-7660-1950-0$$18.95
(3)
4-6
Countdown to Space series.
The books in this series provide history of what's known about these planets including near-current interpretations of spacecraft data. Physical characteristics (size, orbit, composition, satellite systems) are well covered. Color photographs and diagrams accompany the text. Lists of Internet sites and suggested reading are appended. Glos., ind. [Review covers these Countdown to Space titles: Neptune, Pluto, Saturn, and Uranus.]
64 pp.
| Benchmark
| September, 2001
|
LibraryISBN 0-7614-1234-4$$27.07
(4)
4-6
Blastoff! series.
The books in this series provide up-to-date descriptions of astronomers' present knowledge of each planet and Earth's moon, with considerable attention given to the sources of information (visiting spacecraft, the Hubble telescope, ground-based observations, mathematical inference). Errors are few, though the texts are rather dry. The many well-captioned photos, illustrations, and diagrams are adequate. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Blastoff! titles: Jupiter, Earth and the Moon, Neptune, Mars, Saturn.]
32 pp.
| Lerner
| August, 2000
|
LibraryISBN 0-8225-3909-8$$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.
24 pp.
| Bridgestone
| February, 2000
|
LibraryISBN 0-7368-0515-X$$15.93
(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.
These simply written texts provide solid, up-to-date information about current knowledge of the outer planets, acquired mostly from space probes. The captioned color photos are generally well chosen, and the odd nature of the interiors of the gas giants is well described for the intended audience. Lists of organizations and online sites for more information are provided. Bib., glos., ind.