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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.
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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.
(3)
YA
Adventures of Arabella Ashby series.
Levine's steampunk alternate history shifts the Napoleonic Wars to Venus, where French forces mistreat British POWs. Masquerading as captured Captain Singh's wife, Arabella (Arabella of Mars) launches a mission to rescue her beloved, despite the obstacles presented by a cagey chaperone and by a pirate captain's flirtations. Levine touches on the problematic aspects of colonialism even as the novel as a whole leans toward plucky adventure.
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K-3
Planets series.
These wide-trim books combine simple informational texts with large color images of the described features. Each follows the same uninspiring script: a definition of the solar system and the planet's place within it; facts about the planet, including composition, atmospheric conditions, temperature, and/or rotation and revolution lengths; and visibility from Earth. There are four other spring 2015 books in this series. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Planets titles: Jupiter, Mars, Neptune, and Venus.
24 pp.
| Bearport
| January, 2015
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-62724-562-3$23.93
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K-3
Out of this World series.
Limited facts about objects in the solar system are presented in simple sentences for beginning readers. The two-page illustrations feature images of the planets, the sun, and occasionally spacecraft on eye-catching starry black backgrounds. A chart comparing the featured body to Earth's temperature, atmosphere, and other conditions concludes each book. There are eight other spring 2015 books in this series. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Out of this World titles: Icy Comets, Pluto, The Sun, and Venus.
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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
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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.
24 pp.
| Capstone
| December, 2004
|
LibraryISBN 0-7368-3698-5$21.26
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K-3
First Facts: The Solar System series.
Dry, simple texts combine with photographs and diagrams to make these introductions to the moon and Venus accessible to young readers. Random "fun" facts (e.g., banging a drum while on the moon produces no sound because there's no air to carry it) along with clear comparisons provide just the right amount of information for the report-driven reader. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these First Facts: The Solar System titles: Venus and The Moon.
(3)
YA
Worlds Beyond series.
In two books in this series, Miller covers the history of each planet's discovery, its physical composition and atmosphere, and past and future exploration. Both texts contain minor errors, but the paintings are magnificent and, like the diagrams and photographs included, well captioned. A list of websites is appended. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Worlds Beyond titles: Jupiter and Venus.]
64 pp.
| Benchmark
| September, 2002
|
LibraryISBN 0-7614-1405-3$$27.07
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4-6
Blastoff! series.
The books in this series provide somewhat dry descriptions of what is presently known (and calculated) about these planets and the sun. The photographs, illustrations, and diagrams are well chosen and captioned. The few errors are more unfortunate choices of wording rather than misstatements of fact. A list of related websites is appended. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Blastoff! titles: The Sun, Pluto, Uranus, Mercury, and Venus.]
32 pp.
| Lerner
| August, 2000
|
LibraryISBN 0-8225-3904-7$$21.27
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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.