Moon (Jump Into Science) [Library Binding]

Steve Tomecek (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up | Series: Jump Into Science

Moon is a clear introduction to the fascinating science of Earth's moon and also a delightful romp in the company of a charming cat and his firefly friend. Steve Tomecek's science expertise shines on each page as he carefully accustoms readers to new concepts while holding their attentions through a lively presentation of fun facts. Liisa Chauncy Guida's exuberant colors and careful detail capture the moon for both the scientists and the dreamers. Learn how the moon interacts with the sun, how it appears to change in our sky, and how it shines. Find out about humans' first trip to the moon and what we found there. Learn about moon craters, moon dust, and moon bouncing. Humans have always been fascinated by the moon that shines bright above, from imagining a man in the moon to sending men to the moon. Tomecek observes how the moon has helped us think of our own planet: "Over the years, scientists have discovered many facts about our moon. In a way, the moon is like our companion in space. We don't go anywhere without it. When the Apollo astronauts stood on the surface of the moon and looked back at the Earth, they said that it made them realize just how special our planet is." Like the other Jump Into Science books, Moon presents carefully leveled scientific information in a picture book format with a visual character guide who helps readers understand the more challenging information. A do-it-yourself experiment at the end of the book shows young scientists how to make craters and understand more clearly how they formed on the moon.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-2–A cartoon cat and bug explain scientific history and concepts regarding the Earth's moon: its ever-changing appearance, composition, comparisons to Earth and the sun, Galileo's observations and discoveries in 1609, astronauts, orbits, and other topics. Busy, colorful borders are full of decorative details based on the main pictures. A concluding craft project gives instructions on how to make craters. While the use of a cat as a narrator detracts from the authenticity of this title as nonfiction, the material is reliable. Some students might be confused by the explanations of the Moon's orbit and size comparisons, but, as a whole, the book will appeal to children just starting to browse the nonfiction shelves. Pair it with Seymour Simon's The Moon (S & S, 1984), as its photographs will fascinate children.–Heather Ver Voort, Washington West Elementary, Olean, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

K-Gr. 3. A new entry in the Jump into Science series once again uses an engaging picture-book format to introduce basic facts about a topic, here "our closest neighbor in space." Short, uncomplicated sentences discuss the moon's relative size, its surface, Galileo's observations, and crater formation. In such a simplified format, it is hard to convey some concepts fully. Despite the full-spread illustration of the moon rotating around Earth, for example, children may need help understanding the discussion of how, exactly, light changes the appearance of the moon's shape. But Guida's artwork, in bright, saturated colors, will easily draw children into the science; each spread features a polka-dot-winged firefly and a grinning calico cat resembling a young child in rumpled shorts and a T-shirt. Tomecek's words encourage a sense of awe and wonder not only about the moon, where the footprints of the first lunar astronauts are still visible, but also about Earth, which, from the moon, appears to be "a special place . . . full of light and color . . and unlike anything else in the sky." Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books (April 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 079228304X
• ISBN-13: 978-0792283041
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 0.3 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,817,675 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!!!, September 13, 2005

By 

mamareadssomuch "mamareadssomuch" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moon (Jump Into Science) (Library Binding)

This book is perfect for explaining the moon to your child. The illustrations and diagrams are clear and fun. My 6yr old loves this book AND the craft at the end of the book ~ making your own moon craters using flour, pebbles, etc. This science series is a must for any child's library. I'm eager to delve into the others for him!

5.0 out of 5 stars One of best educational books on moon for young children, January 14, 2011

By 

IIJuan12 (Sugar Land, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moon (Jump Into Science) (Hardcover)

I used this book when teaching a unit on the moon. I read through about 15 books and my children and I picked this one as our favorite. This has fun illustrations that appeal to young children, but it includes lots of factual information so the children will learn a lot while you read. It is all-emcompasing in regards to what is typically studied about the moon in elementary school.

5.0 out of 5 stars Travel to the Moon, October 4, 2010

By 

Reflection Haiku "Lily Wang, Author" (California, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Moon (Jump Into Science) (Hardcover)

Ages 4-8, 32 p. To pick a book to read to a class of 1-2 graders about the MOON, we landed on this awesome Jump Into Science book from National Geographic where a cat and his firefly pal take kids for a moon walk and unlock some secrets about our companion in space that earth "can't go anywhere without it." Kids get answers on why does the moon seem to change shape, what is the moon made of and learn brief history and concepts about it from Galileo Galilei's first telescope in 1609, Apollo II's footsteps that remain till today in 1969 to the many scientific names related to the moon such as craters, meteorites, "seas" as well as the moon's orbiting and sizes in relations to the earth and the sun. The book concludes with a project "Making Craters" that kids will have great success and fun doing it. The interior pages are attractively designed with astronomical borders that engage young readers' interest in learning. On the page where the cat actually measures the earth and the sun with a ruler had brought forth some laughter. This book is perfect for little Moon Watchers to discover more fascinating topics about their favorite object in the night sky.