planets

Yes this book fosters the development of the processes of observation and classification. For example, it fosters observation because even though its shows pictures and diagrams of planets and stars. It gives the students opportunities to look outside for themselves to see if they notice anything. It handles classification because students need to learn what gas giants are, what stars look like, what other items fall under in the universe.

• Author: Penelope Arlon and Tory Gordon-Harris
• Illustrator: Various Sources/Picture Based
• Year Published: 2012
• ISBN: 9780545330282

Science Topics

• Space Science
• Earth Science

Minimum Suggested Grade Level

• 2nd Grade

Maximum Suggested Grade Level

• 6th Grade

Summary

All children want to learn their place in the universe, discover how our planet fits into the solar system, and are blown away by the crazy, big facts and stats of space. Welcome to a tour of the major planets, moons, dwarf planets, asteroids, comets, and other rocks and gas that orbit the sun. Come experience real life pictures taken from space and on earth.

Evaluation

• Appropriateness: High
• Authority: High
• Accuracy: High
• Liteary Artistry: High
• Appearance: High

Questions

Does the book foster development of processes?

Yes this book fosters the development of the processes of observation and classification. For example, it fosters observation because even though its shows pictures and diagrams of planets and stars. It gives the students opportunities to look outside for themselves to see if they notice anything. It handles classification because students need to learn what gas giants are, what stars look like, what other items fall under in the universe.

Does the book provide an opportunity for children to ask and answer their own questions?

Yes the book does provide opportunities for children to ask questions and have the book answer them. For example they can ask about the moon and why it looks different every night and have them answered. Or they can ask why we cant live on other planets. Since this is a informational book, the answer will be most likely answered right then and there in the book with vivid and bright pictures.

Does the book encourage children to think for themselves?

The book does encourage children to think as it asked questions such as "What do you think aliens might look like? Also it tells them to look at the sky on a clear night and look at the patterns of the stars. The book also asked the reader to notice the moon each day to see the shape. The book does give children to think for themselves because not only does the book give out informational facts but it gives a sense of wonder which children will use in the future.

Is the science topic addressed in ways that are appropriate to the lesson?

The content is appropriate to the lesson. This book is purely non-fiction. It even addresses the fact that there may be alien on other planets but doesn't state 'Yes' or 'No' which respects peoples beliefs. It is all about planets, stars, comets and much more.

Is the content based on sound scientific principles? Is it accurate?

The content is accurate when it comes to its information as the information is gathered from scientists, pictures taken from space, History and proven facts. One thing that made me question its accuracy in meteor size was a picture of a meteor with two young boys sitting in the meteor. This portrays the picture in saying that a meteor is about the same or greater than the size of two small boys which is certainly not true. Perhaps there was a small meteor that small but that picture showed two small boys atop of a small size meteor.

Does the book distinguish between fact and fiction?

Yes this book is purely non-fiction and factual so there is no need to distinguish between fact and fiction. The page with an alien even shows us a page on what an alien could look like based on drawings and research. However they didn't make up what an alien looks like because scientifically the book doesn't have evidence of aliens on earth or nearby planets.

Are the illustrations clear and accurate?

Yes the pictures shown are accurate based on scientific data and research. Some pictures are blurry but I believe that it because there has not been a clear picture taken of the planet,comet or moon because of its distance and movement. The illustrations are beautiful pictures with real life colors and images.

Is the book written at the level of your students?

Yes, the words are broken down in multiple sentences or paragraphs all around the page in which it is very organized and clean even with all the vivid pictures on the page. It introduced Greek and Roman Gods which might be more advanced for 3rd or 4th grade.

Is there a multicultural component? Is it free from stereotyping?

It is not free of stereotyping because in a section of the book, there are considerably more men shown than women. So it might show that men are more likely to be astronauts. For a whole page dedicated to astronauts, I feel like there could have been more women shown.There is a part where it says the astronauts must learn to speak English and/or Russian. So there is that culture language.

Is the book free from gender bias?

Same as above, this books shows that men might be more inclined to be astronauts than women. They even did an interview with a male astronaut and didn't include one with a women.

Does the book show the close association between science and other disciplines?

Yes it does as it shows connection to organic chemistry as it shows planets that have oxygen or carbon dioxide or just gases in general that make up its surface or atmosphere. It shows connections to mathematics and engineering  as rockets ships and satellites must be built properly using those other disciplines.

Does the book present a positive attitude toward science and technology?

It does! It shows a positive attitude towards not only planets but the equipments that we use to observe the planets and other items in space. It give an appreciation for the planet we live on since other neighboring planets dont have the necessary atmosphere and surface for humans to live on.