Basher Science: Planet Earth: What planet are you on?
Basher continues his series of science primers that are so entertaining, kids may read them for fun, beyond the classroom walls. Once again, a cast of endearing, goofy, globby-bodied cartoon creatures embody the concepts. Each one appears on its own spread and is grouped into categories, such as “Landlubbers” (i.e., continents) and “The Insiders,” including the earth's crust. As in the previous titles, the authors blend a surprising wealth of facts into the chatty, humorous text, which is filled with analogies kids can relate to. A hot spot in the earth's mantle, for example, is “like a huge, angry pimple on Earth's face.” The format, which allows limited space for explanations, works less well in the case of more complex concepts, such as the food web and water cycle, so readers will most likely need other sources to fill in details. But the highly approachable language, animated cast of characters, awe-inspiring facts, and conservation messages make this an appealing starting point for students seeking basic earth-science information. Grades 5-8. --Gillian Engberg