Hot Planets: Mercury and Venus

Children's Literature - Pat Trattles

Because they are the two planets closest to the sun, Mercury and Venus are sometimes referred to as the hot planets. They are so hot that if you ever went there, you would be fried to a crisp within minutes of landing. Part of the "Exploring Our Solar System" series from Crabtree Publishing, these facts as well as many others are presented in a simple question and answer format that will quickly pull young readers in, enticing them to learn more about our fascinating solar system. Each two-page spread deals with a major focus question and three or four follow-ups. Readers will learn why Venus is called the "Hell Planet," whether Mercury and Venus have moons, and what is a good way to spot a planet. Also included are "Wow" spots, snippets of additional information presented in red or purple shaded circles. One "Wow" spot, for example, states: "Wow! Venus has lots of volcanoes, but they are not the solar system's biggest. Olympus Mons on Mars is three times higher than anything on Venus." These colorful "Wow" spots, along with the full-color photographs and graphics accompanying the text, make this work visually appealing as well as information packed. Complete with a detailed table of contents, glossary, index and table of statistical facts and figures, this book is a welcome addition to upper elementary and early middle school science classroom and library bookshelves. Reviewer: Pat Trattles