November 1, 2022
Gr 2-4-Colorful illustrations in these titles show various children learning about space. They imagine traveling to the planets, moons, and other objects in our solar system as they visit the science museum, learn in class, or take a plane ride. "Mission Goals" set a purpose for reading, while "Beyond the Mission" suggests an activity to extend learning as well as a few questions to ponder. Blastoff Jimmy appears with additional facts of interest like the composition of asteroids. The end of each exploration is a recap page with facts about the visited objects such as the comparative sizes of asteroids, or number of moons for each planet. A list of suggested reading as well as FactSurfer links to online resources offer additional material to explore. VERDICT An introduction to solar system basics for young readers that would work well in classrooms or library collections.
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February 15, 2023
Grades K-3 Would you like to go on an educational space adventure? Yes, you! In engaging second-person narratives, the Journey into Space series (6 titles) takes to the stars, giving Magic School Bus-style lessons on the cosmos. Each title begins with "Mission Goals" to prepare youngsters for their reading experience. Kids will gravitate to the colorful cartoon art, which fills double-page spreads that feature simple text (a few short sentences per page), bold labels identifying objects in the illustrations, and fun facts provided by Blastoff Jimmy. Each volume concludes with an infographic list of its featured space objects or planets, with some including sight-word pronunciations to further build on skills for beginning readers. The Outer Planets ventures beyond the asteroid belt to visit the gas and ice giants. Back matter includes suggested reading, kid-friendly online resources, and "Beyond the Mission" discussion questions. An inviting series that makes learning an adventure.
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