Discover Science: Solar System
With glossy color pages, abundant visuals, and descriptive prose, this Discover Science series title provides an accessible introduction to earth’s solar system. Printed in a large font, the text is well suited to newly independent readers’ abilities as it simply conveys concepts such as gravity (“a force that pulls things toward one another”) and occasionally uses familiar comparisons to aid comprehension: Mercury’s nights are “bitterly cold, much colder than any freezer.” The visual-laden pages feature a wide range of images, from stock photos to detailed renderings of planetary surfaces. The information is occasionally vague; a passage states that “Jupiter has many moons,” for example, rather than specifying a number. On the whole, though, this title offers a lively overview that will interest budding astronomers looking for personal reading choices. Also included are instructions for activities, such as a recipe for “Crazy Comets” treats. A glossary, notes for parents and teachers, suggested resources, and additional facts conclude. Grades 1-3. --Shelle Rosenfeld