Destination: Mars (Destination (HarperCollins Publishers Paperback)) [Paperback]

Seymour Simon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 16, 2004 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up | Series: Destination (HarperCollins Publishers Paperback)

Seymour Simon has written more than 150 award-winning science books about animals, anatomy, astronomy, earth science, and vehicles!

Named after the Roman god of war, Mars has fascinated people for thousands of years. Did you know that . . .

• A Martian year is 687 Earth days, almost twice as long as a year on Earth.
• Mars’s biggest valley, Valles Marineris, is four times as deep as the Grand Canyon!
• Scientists think that Mars, now rocky and barren, once had an ocean, rivers, and a thicker atmosphere.
• The first robot ever to explore the surface of Mars is only about the size of a child’s toy wagon.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

This revised edition of Simon's book Mars (1987) includes new pictures from the Mars Orbiter Camera, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the Pathfinder lander, all launched since the publication of the earlier volume. The text also reflects NASA missions that gathered information about Mars in the late 1990s. In the same handsome format as Simon's other books on the planets, this volume offers a timely update of knowledge and speculation about the red planet. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Seymour Simon has been called “the dean of the [children’s science book] field” by the New York Times. He has written more than 250 books for young readers and has received the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting contribution to children’s science literature, the Science Books & Films Key Award for Excellence in Science Books, the Empire State Award for excellence in literature for young people, the New York State Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature, the Hope S. Dean Memorial Award from the Boston Public Library, the Washington Post-Children’s Book Guild Award, the Educational Paperback Association Jeremiah Ludington Award, and the Mom’s Choice Award-Gold. He and his wife, Liz, live in upstate New York.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (March 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060546387
• ISBN-13: 978-0060546380
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 10 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #370,827 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science > Astronomy > Astronomy
  • #36 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators, A-Z > ( S ) > Simon, Seymour
  • #53 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Astronomy & Space > Aeronautics & Space

More About the Author

Seymour Simon, whom the NY Times called "the dean of [children's science] writers," is the author of more than 250 highly acclaimed science books (many of which have been named Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children by the National Science Teachers Association). His free, educational children's app, SCIENCE FUN TO GO, debuted in the Top 10 of all free children's apps in the Amazon App store, and features in app purchase of original Seymour Simon eBooks, as well as a multitude of free content.

Seymour Simon uses his website, SeymourSimon.com, to provide free downloads of a wealth of materials for educators, homeschoolers and parents to use with his books, including 4-page Teacher Guides for all 26 of his Collins/Smithsonian photo essay books. The site provides multiple resources for kids writing book reports or wanting to explore the online Science Dictionary, and also features the Seymour Science blog highlighting current science news. Educators and families are encouraged to sign up to receive the monthly newsletter from SeymourSimon.com to stay abreast of the latest materials that Seymour Simon is introducing to enrich the reading experience.

He taught science and creative writing in elementary and secondary schools and was chair of the science department at a junior high school in the New York City public school system before leaving to become a full-time writer. "I haven't really given up teaching," he says, "and I suppose I never will, not as long as I keep writing and talking to kids around the country and the world."

Seymour Simon is also a creator and the author of a series of 3D books and a series of Glow-in-the-Dark Books for Scholastic Book Clubs, a series of leveled SEEMORE READERS for Chronicle Books, and the EINSTEIN ANDERSON, SCIENCE DETECTIVE series of fiction books. His books encourage children to enjoy the world around them through learning and discovery, and by making science fun. He has introduced tens of millions of children to a staggering array of subjects; one prominent science education specialist described Simon's books as "extraordinary examples of expository prose."

Seymour Simon has been honored with many awards for his work, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting contribution to children's science literature; the New York State Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature; the Hope S. Dean Memorial Award from the Boston Public Library for his contribution to children's science literature; The Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for Non-fiction; the Jeremiah Ludington Award for his outstanding contribution to children's nonfiction; the Empire State Award for excellence in literature for young people; and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Forum on Children's Science Books.

In a recent interview Simon was asked if he ever thinks of retiring. "I seem to be working faster and harder than ever. I absolutely don't feel any urge to sit back and look at what I've done. The only things that I'm thinking about are things I'd like to do in the future. I'm planning and doing and continuing to write. It's what I love to do. I remember a story about an anthropologist going to talk to a tribe and he asked them what was their word for "work." Their response was they have no word for work. Everybody does the things that they do in their life. I love that response. I don't differentiate between work and play. Everything I do is something that I enjoy doing - the writing, the research and everything else."

Seymour Simon writes and photographs nature from his hilltop home in Columbia County in upstate New York. You can follow his daily nature walks and see his photographs from the field on Twitter (@seymoursimon) or on his Facebook group page. He also regularly hosts Q&As and sponsors book giveaways on GoodReads.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great kids book on Mars.ONLY, June 27, 2010

By 

Thomas Erickson (Lutz Fl and Felt Oklahoma) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Destination: Mars (Destination (HarperCollins Publishers Paperback)) (Paperback)

It is an excellent book for a kid 5-8 to read or have their parents read and show the pictures to them. The false "canals" of Mars are discussed as well as the epic classic sci fi "War of the Wars" by H. G. Wells (one of my favorite books). The Viking mission to Mars and lack of finding conclusive evidence of life is discussed. There are pictures of Mars. The moons Phobos and Deimos are pictured and discussed. There are a few good landscape photos from the small rover Sojourner of the Pathfinder mission. Unfortunately nothing about the rovers Spirit and Opportunity. Missed is discussion on the polar icecaps, volcanoes and huge canyons.

Do buy it as a 5-8 year old kids reading book to increase their reading pleasure. The young kids will learn a little about Mars too. Its a good book for parents to read and show the pictures to the little ones. 5 stars as a kids book.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seymour Rocks Mars, January 29, 2006

By 

Lynette Estes (Round Rock, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Destination: Mars (Destination (HarperCollins Publishers Paperback)) (Paperback)

This was a Christmas present for our 5 yr old who has recently discovered the thrill of our solar system. He reads it continually and has many of Seymour Simon's other books about our solar system. He loves them so much and has started sharing them with some of his friends. He constantly relates planetary trivia to me which shows me that he's not just looking at the pictures.

This Mars book is written incredibly well. I'm amazed at how Seymour Simon can speak to a 5 yr old and adults. The artwork and photographs within the book are incredible. I love this and all of Mr. Simon's books we've seen so far. I highly recommend this as a reading tool for any kid that is interested in planets or space in general. If they love the book, they'll keep reading!