Children's Literature
- Children's Literature
When we compare the planets of our solar system, we find that some are small, others big. Some planets are rocky, others are made entirely of gas. They all vary in the time it takes to complete an orbit around the sun. Although our home planet seems big, it is small compared to some of the other planets. Interestingly four planets are bigger than Earth and four are smaller. Throughout this text, the reader is presented brief facts presented in inset boxes and "Star Point" boxes. Computer-generated photographs and diagrams plus an index and glossary make this an important reference text. One of ten volumes in the series "Planet Library" The series is excellent and would be a desirable addition to an elementary or middle school collection, as well as science classrooms. 2000, Lerner Books, Ages 8 to 14, $22.60. Reviewer: Joyce Rice
School Library Journal
Gr 4-6-Kerrod first introduces the Sun and the Moon. Points of interest such as comets, meteors, and asteroids are mentioned, followed by basic information on each of the planets-its diameter, distance from the Sun, temperature, etc.-standard stuff that can be found elsewhere. The best features of this book are the captioned, full-color photographs and illustrations, and the clearly worded glossary. There are, however, some inaccuracies. The questions that are posed throughout are difficult, poorly worded, and at times the appended answers are incorrect. The textbooklike layout with frequent ``Workout'' sections, problems to solve, ``It's Amazing'' trivia, and ``Investigate'' experiments is distracting and disrupts the narrative flow. Students aren't likely to stop and tackle the math problems (which are significantly tougher than the reading level) when they are not assigned. There are many better titles available on the subject.-Sandra Welzenbach, H.K. Williams Elementary School, San Antonio, TX
School Library Journal
Gr 4-7-Readable texts, good illustrations, and eye-catching page layouts contribute to the appeal of these attractive titles. In the first book, Kerrod discusses the Moon's origin and physical description, its orbit and phases, its effect on tides, its craters, eclipses, and its exploration, with an emphasis on the Apollo missions. There are also good-quality maps of the Moon's surface. Seymour Simon's Moon (Four Winds, 1984; o.p.) is not as detailed, but its text is more unified and moves more smoothly from start to finish. The second book covers the origin of our solar system, the types of planets and other celestial objects, their orbits, the difference between planets and stars, gas giants and terrestrial planets, the exploration of the solar system, and the possibility of other solar systems and the search for extraterrestrial life. Both books feature charts with factual data and helpful diagrams. These flashy, up-to-date titles will serve as excellent starting points for astronomy reports.-Jeffrey A. French, Euclid Public Library, OH Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.
