Book Description

Take a trip through the solar system and discover what?s really up in the sky!Packed with fascinating facts about planets, comets, asteroids and more, Planets is a galaxy of fun for young astronomers...and everybody who gazes at the night sky!

Create your own universe and solar system with reusable stickers of the planets, asteroids, galaxies, and comets! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Very, very nice poem about the planets & some good info, too
For me, the most striking portion of the book is the first part containg a poem about the planets. It's method of presentation in the book is just as well done. Unlike many of more crowded books on the solar system, it presents the solar system in more of a realistic environment: lots of uncluttered black space.

The first page starts with an illustration of the sun against a mostly black background:

"This is the sun, shining so bright,
giving us the energy of heat and light."

Turn a very small page, the first and smallest of nine progressively larger that eventually reach the full over-sized pages in the book. There you find Mercury with a brief poetic description of it and a repeating of the lines for the sun. Turn the next slightly larger page to see both Mercury and Venus. Here lines for Venus are found with a repeating of those for Mercury. Turn the next slight larger page and the pattern repeats until a full-sized page contains all nine planets and the lines for Pluto and Neptune. Turn the full-sized page and the completed poem, starting at the sun, is found. It's thoughtful and well written. To fully appreciate the poem, some basic knowledge of the plants is necessary, such as Uranus spinning on its side, Mars being red and the crossing of Neptune's and Pluto's orbits.

The following section, "Did You Know?" contains fairly detailed information about our universe, the solar system, the sun and planets.

The book contains no photographs, but because of the vivid illustrations, this is not a problem.

In one respect, the stickers are a bit disappointing. Although they claim to be reusable, they are very hard to remove when stuck to pages of the book. After discovering this, we haven't experimented with them very much. They do contain nice illustrations of the sun, planets, two space shuttles, three comets, two asteroid "belts", and three galaxies: irregular, spiral and barred spiral.

This book is well suited to children who already have some background in the solar system. It does work as a nice complement to many of the basic beginner solar system books. ... Read more

Book Description

Here's a great way for amateur astronomers to get started in the study of stars, planets, and other celestial objects. This handsomely packaged kit provides stargazers with the following items: A Planisphere, a 9" diameter laminated double disk with a night sky star chart on the base disk and a movable top disk providing directional bearings and scales that mark hours of the night and months of the year; an Astrotorch, a small flashlight that gives off a beam of red light, allowing star watchers to study charts when they're outside on a dark starry night; "Mapping the Skies," a 128-page spiral-bound book of sky maps and charts; "The Star Guide," another 128-page spiral-bound book of full-color sky photos, illustrations, and a lively text that explains the science of astronomy. Lucky owners of this kit will be off to a great start in understanding what they're seeing when they gaze up at the night sky. It's also a great teacher's tool for science class. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Can't go wrong with this!
I am just beginning to pursue a life-long dream of becoming a backyard astronomer,and have found these books(there are two,each spiral-bound)to be an excellent introduction to the hobby.Easy for the novice to understand,and each book is beautifully presented.If you are thinking of taking up astronomy as a new interest,I think Mr.Kerrod has done a wonderful job. I'm sure you will find the set of books;planisphere;and flashlight a great beginning!

Fantastic Kit!
Robin Kerrod's The Sky at Night is a fantastic kit that includes a planisphere, a red flashlight and two spiral bound books; Mapping the Sky and The Star Guide. Mapping the Sky has maps of major southern and northern constellations for each month of the year. The Star Guide is a concise but complete astronomy guide. Both books come with full color photographs and charts. The kit comes accomodated in a beautiful box so you can carry it everywhere. It is an ideal kit for your nightsky watching sessions. A great buy!

Dust off the telescope
This kit is great for children and adults. My husband is enjoying it as much as our 12 year old. They dusted off the telescope for it's first use in a long time. ... Read more

Book Description

This popular series opens a window on the natural and scientific world for young readers through the use of painted windows that dramatically reveal, page by page, the wonders of the physical and natural world.

See-through windows in Our Solar System transport kids from the blazing sun to distant, icy Pluto . . . and beyond. Information bars at the top of each page highlight important facts, while stunning illustrations and photographs make the complicated aspects of space fun and accessible. The foreword is provided by NASA.

Dimensions (inches): 8 1/4 x 11 1/4 ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Attractive, but light on information
This handsome book is a great introduction to the planets for the young reader. The pages are hard, cardboard-like, each with a clear plastic "window" that contains a drawing of the planet being discussed. When the book is closed, then all of the planets are visible at the same time. Each planet is covered with about a page worth of information.

This book is very attractive, and is a good resource for young children. However, I must make clear that there is very little information here, which means that older students will not find this book useful. Contrary to the recommended reading level of 9-12, I would suggest that this book would be most valuable for reader between the levels of 7-9; my seven-year old son enjoyed this book immensely. So, I would give this book a qualified recommendation. ... Read more

Book Description

Where can you find Leo the lion?

How can you bring a constellation into your room?

What are the oldest stars?

How did the Milky Way Galaxy get its name?

Now you can explore the answers to these and other questions in Janice VanCleave's Constellations for Every Kid. Find the constellations Draco, Libra, Hydra, Hercules, and many more from your own backyard. Make a star disk that can track star movements. Find out what a balloon can tell us about stars. With activities like making an astronomer's flashlight and a shoebox planetarium, Janice VanCleave's Constellations for Every Kid will have you reaching for the stars.

Each of the activities begins with a statement of purpose, followed by a list of materials, step-by-step instructions, expected results, and an easy-to-understand explanation. Every activity has been pretested and can be performed safely and inexpensively at home or in the classroom.

Also available in this series from Janice VanCleave:

• ASTRONOMY FOR EVERY KID
• BIOLOGY FOR EVERY KID
• CHEMISTRY FOR EVERY KID
• DINOSAURS FOR EVERY KID
• EARTH SCIENCE FOR EVERY KID
• ECOLOGY FOR EVERY KID
• GEOGRAPHY FOR EVERY KID
• GEOMETRY FOR EVERY KID
• THE HUMAN BODY FOR EVERY KID
• MATH FOR EVERY KID
• OCEANS FOR EVERY KID
• PHYSICS FOR EVERY KID

Reviews (3)

useful but limited
Janice VanCleave's "Constellations For Every Kid" is one of the books I used to teach an astronomy unit to the boys I help homeschool. It is quite limited in its scope -- containing only the northern constellations and no complete star maps -- but is very useful for basic constellation identification. I used it mostly as a source of seasonal star maps for the boys to copy. It also helpfully identifies some key stars in various constellations, and provides tips for finding various constellations once the positions of others are known.

However, this is about all the book is good for. The explanations of various phenomena are extremely limited, VanCleave provides none of the legends behind the constellations, and her suggested questions and activities are often impractical or pointless. (She also turned Saggitarius into some unholy thing she dubbed 'The Teapot.' Sheesh.) The book wavers between being a teacher's handbook and a student's textbook -- and fills neither purpose very well.

In other words, don't buy it. Skim through it and take any useful activities and explanations, but don't be too disappointed if you come away with only a few ideas.

Not what I hoped
This book is almost entirely about finding specific constellations in the sky. If that's what you want, then it's for you. It is not about constellations in general, nor does it have star stories. It only has a few "activities." I bought it to use in my classroom, but haven't touched it. I have to wonder why I bought it, because I have the same opinion of Janice VanCleave's books....they look good, but there isn't all that much substance. I just had a weak moment! This one is worse than usual.

Great book
My 7 year old daughter and I have had a great time with Constellations For Every Kid. Each chapter provides a "bite size" chunk of information, a stargazing opportunity, questions to reinforce what was taught, and an astronomy-related activity. Other strong points include simple but quality illustrations and helpful pronunciation guides. The book covers topics like the general motion of the sky, precession, ecliptic, variable stars, spectral types, folklore, as well as the names of the stars and consteallations clearly, with enough depth to be interesting but not so much detail as to be overwhelming. In short, My daughter may not remember all the specifics but she's getting the basic ideas and we're having fun in the process. ... Read more

Book Description

Much has been written about the vast scientific importance of space exploration, but very little about the human side of being a m,ember of an astronaut crew. In this book, with the help of journalist Susan Okie, Sally Ride shares the personal experience of traveling into space.

Astronauts live, sleep, eat, and work in conditions totally unlike anything we know here on Earth. Everything they do is affected by weightlessness. The simplest of daily routines, such as preparing meals or getting dressed, is a challenge to human ingenuity. Astronauts live and work as members of a team--each a highly trained expert in a particular field. The cheerful enthusiasm with which they adapt to the special environment of space is testimony to their total commitment to their work.

Written especially with a young audience in mind, To Space and Back answers questions frequently asked by space enthusiasts of all ages. It also reveals that the remarkable men and women who have chosen to pioneer the frontiers of space are first and foremost unique individuals--like all of us. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Lovely Story capturing the Thrill of Spaceflight
Long an advocate for improved science education, astronaut Sally Ride, the first American women to fly in space, has written four children's books: "Voyager: An Adventure to the Edge of the Solar System"; "The Third Planet: Exploring the Earth from Space"; "The Mystery of Mars"; and this one, "To Space and Back."

In this book Dr. Ride takes children on a first person tour of a space shuttle mission. She describes preparations for the flight, the actual launch, orbital flight with its characteristic weightlessness, and the return to Earth when the shuttle lands like an airplane on a runway.

As an example of how she approaches this subject. She writes that at launch plus six minutes: "The force pushing us against the backs of our seats steadily increases. We can barely move because we're being held in place by a force of 3 g's--three times the force of gravity we feel on Earth. At first we don't mind it--we've all felt much more than that when we've done acrobatics in our jet training airplanes. But that lasted only a few seconds, and this seems to go on forever. After a couple of minutes of 3 g's, we're uncomfortable, straining to hold our books on our laps and craning our necks against the force to read the instruments. I find myself wisping we'd hurry up and get into orbit." Then she describes how, at about eight minutes after launch, the engines cut off and she is weightless in Earth orbit.

This book is a treat for young readers. It captures the excitement and mystery of space exploration as only a veteran astronaut--one who is both reflective and committed to the education of young people--can relate it. Share it with them.

To Space And Back, You Really Do Go To Space With This Book.
If you, like me, dream of exploring space, then this is the book for you to read. This book litteraly puts you in the shuttle during one of the flights. From countdown to landing, this book takes you through it all. Out of all the astronaut books that I have read, this one is the best.

Great book for kids and parents.
This is a wonderful, well-written book about a space shuttle mission from start to finish. My 7-year old was enthralled by the book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it to him. The book covers topics that are of interest to kids as well as adults, such as how astronauts go to the bathroom in space, how they eat, sleep and shave, etc. It also covers topics that earthbound folk such as me never even thought about, such as what is done with all the weightless hair, crumbs, and the like that float around the cabin at the end of the day. The topics range from the mundane to the scientific. Orbit, launching and retrieving sattelites, and scientific experiments are discussed in easily understable language. I highly recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Featuring up-to-the-minute discoveries and state-of-the-art space photography, this atlas illustrates all that science has revealed about constellations, the evolution of stars and galaxies, and the planets in the solar system. Acetate overlays highlight special points of interest to show even more about what we see in the night sky. ... Read more

Book Description

This intimate and beautiful study of Earth investigates the relationship between our planet, the sun, and the moon. Why are there seasons on Earth? How does day pass into night?What protects the Earth from the sun's intense heat?Why is the surface of the Earth constantly changing?The informative text reveals how Earth's unique position in relation to the sun makes it the only planet where life is possible.The stunning full-color photographs will mesmerize young readers about the mysteries of space. ... Read more

Book Description

This Level 1 book is appropriate for children who are just beginning to read.

Rockets do many jobs. They carry satellites and people into space and can be used as weapons. What else do you think they can do? For children who are just beginning to read and who have a limited vocabulary, these 32-page Level 1 books-about everything from tadpoles to puppies-use word repetition and simple sentences to convey meaning. Picture dictionary boxes with word labels "show" the meanings of words. These books contain between 400 and 450 words each, and they are 80 percent pictures and 20 percent text. The Dorling Kindersley Readers combine an enticing visual layout with high-interest, easy-to-read stories to captivate and delight young bookworms who are just getting started. Written by leading children's authors and compiled in consultation with literacy experts, these engaging books build reader confidence along with a lifelong appreciation for nonfiction, classic stories, and biographies. There is a DK Reader to interest every child at every level, from preschool to grade 4. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Blast off to Space Info
Teaches basic vocabulary and ideas related to space and various spacecrafts (probe, satellite, etc.). Colorful and varied book design. Has select vocabulary words in boxes with an appropriate photograph. Text is straightforward. For example, "The plane part of the space shuttle can be used again and again. It takes off like a rocket, then it glides back to Earth and lands like an airplane." (...)

Very informative
This book was given to my 4 year old for his birthday. The book is fairly easy to read, and provides photos and descriptions of new vocabulary words. It's a challenge for those who are beginning to read solely for the purpose of reading, but it's a delight for those who devour everything about rockets and space! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent Middle School to 10th Grade Text Series
I teach Physics and General Science at a highly regarded Catholic girls' Prep School here on the island of Guam. Over 99% of our graduates go on to college.

For the Freshman General Science classes, I am using the Prentice Hall "Science Explorer" series, and am highly impressed. Explanations are complete yet concise. Illustrations are appropriate, plentiful, and of excellent quality. Suggested lab activities are reasonable in terms of being age appropriate and not requiring outlandish quantities of expensive and rare lab equipment. While these might seem to be minimal expectations, many science texts I have encountered do not manage to pull off any of the three.

I love, use, and highly recommend the texts Inside Earth, Astronomy, Human Biology and Health, Ecology, Weather and Climate, and Forces and Motion from this series.

Kelly Fitzpatrick
Paradise, Guam

Science Explorer " Astronomy " Book
This was a awsome book. My class read this book and it was awsome so if your a teacher get this book. It has awsome activities in the book it has three chapter and your going to have to find out so get it. ... Read more

Amazon.com

If you don't know a black hole from a white dwarf, then this pocket-sized guide to the universe will bring you up to date. Even if you already know about the Local Arm and spectrohelioscopes, you'll find this book from Dorling Kindersley a useful resource. It provides short and succinct answers to those big questions about outer space: What is the universe? How is a star born? What are the Big Bang and Big Crunch theories? You can use the handy glossary and index to help you find all the answers under the sun to questions astronomical. The book is divided into sections on the universe, galaxies, stars, space viewed from Earth, the solar system, the planets, small objects in space (comets, meteors, and asteroids), studying space, and space history. Colorful diagrams, maps, photos, and charts provide additional information. An amazing number of space facts are packed into 160 small pages, on everything from the atmosphere around us to the signs of the zodiac. (Ages 11 to adult) --Marcie Bovetz ... Read more

Book Description

Dora and Boots are headed to outer space! They are going to help their alien friends get back home to the Purple Planet. Readers can help Dora by using the stickers to find the way through the starry sky! ... Read more

Book Description

Curious young astronomers who ask, "What are stars made of?" and "Why do astronauts float in space?" will find the answers here. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fantastic book.
This was a great book. It told me a lot about space and the stars that I did not know. Now Iam realy fasinated by the stars. The book told me How fast rokets go. How high you can jump on the moon. And other fasinating facts. ... Read more

Book Description

In this lively book, award-winning author-artist Bob Barner takes readers on a ride through outer space to visit distant planets and dazzling stars. The simple rhyming text and colorful torn-paper collage illustrations make this book perfect for the very youngest readers, and the Meet the Planets and Meet the Galaxy sections, both bursting with facts, will engage older readers as well. Stars! Stars! Stars! will rocket aspiring stargazers right out of this world! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This book may teach your little one more than you think!
I bought this book for my just-turned-three year old daughter. She likes it a lot and requests it by name. I'm sure that it would be just as suitable for younger children. It is a nice introduction to the solar system, and the universe around us.

My daughter likes the simple illustrations and the rhyming text.

What I had not realized when I first reviewed this book is how much this book really teaches. Imagine my surprise when my daughter rattled off the names of the planets, in order from the sun, one day. I was also surprised that she saw a poster of stars and told me "look constellations!" (Well it was a three year old's approximation of the word "constellations" but I knew what she meant.) I would never have pushed her to learn about the solar system, but I'm pleased that this book gave her a way to follow a natural interes. ... Read more

Book Description

As a young boy, Neil Armstrong had a recurring dream in which he held his breath and floated high in the sky. He spent his free time reading stacks of flying magazines, building model airplanes, and staring through a homemade telescope. As a teenager, Neil worked odd jobs to pay for flying lessons at a nearby airport. He earned his student pilot"s license on his sixteenth birthday. But who was to know that this shy boy, who also loved books and music, would become the first person to set foot on the moon, on July 20, 1969. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Don Brown's Best One Yet!
This biography is without a doubt Brown's best picturebook biography to date. He really has written an engaging biography of Armstrong. My second graders went back to this book time and again after I read it aloud! One of my students () used it as a primary source for her biography on Neil Armstrong...and she wrote a great bio too! A great addition to a classroom library or school library biography section!

"One Giant Step" is fantastic!
Don Brown's book "One Giant Step: the Story of Neil Armstrong" is great. It approaches the story of America's most famous astronaut from a truly unique perspective. Even as an adult I found it compelling.The illustrations are colorful, lively watercolors with distinctive style and charm. Few have mastered the art writing children's books. Fewer have mastered the art of illustrating them. Don Brown has done both.

Horrid illustrations and rather boring text
My kids crave far more information than this book provided. They would have like more photographs of this famous man, not cartoonish, childish illustrations.

wonderful and inspiring
No one is telling history to young children quite the way that Don Brown is -- clearly, factually, and without the unnecessary treacle and syrup. History is beguiling enough as it is. Brown's admiration for his subject comes through in his direct and Hemingway-esque style. Armstrong was a hero who started as a boy with a dream, literally. My children were smitten, as was I. THIS BOOK IS A NO-FAIL GIFT for boys and girls. We hope to hear, and see, more from this fantastic author-illustrator. He deserves more recognition, and I am sure that will come soon. ... Read more