The Planets [Hardcover]

Gail Gibbons (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

Best-selling author-illustrator Gail Gibbons explores our solar system's planets in this absolutely up-to-date edition that includes Pluto's new status as a dwarf planet. Our solar system is a fascinating place. The planets in it, named in ancient times after Greek and Roman gods and goddesses, are very different from each other in size, shape, orbit, and even weather. An update of Gail Gibbons's popular first two editions, this third edition clearly explains basic information about each planet in our solar system as well as the many new discoveries that have come to light in recent years, such as Pluto's new disignation as dwarf planet. Pluto's designation has been in the news lately. This edition provides a clear explanation of the controversy and why Pluto was named a dwarf planet. Children are often curious about the night sky and will be fascinated to see it up close.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 1–3—In an inexcusably superficial update of the 2005 edition, Gibbons revises her text minimally and leaves the art untouched. Along with leaving her mention of the 2004 Mars Exploration Rover Mission still illustrated only with a view of a '70s-era Viking Lander, she lets Pluto continue to sail along the peripheries of the planetary maps—in an incorrect orbit to boot—and gives it an entire spread. Furthermore, though she properly notes that Pluto is now classified as a dwarf planet, Ceres, which was upgraded at the same time to the same status, gets nary a mention. Despite some intriguing facts ("On Venus, a day is longer than a year, and a year is shorter than a day") and that familiar, instantly recognizable look, this outing has less to offer fledgling readers than such other recent tours as Seymour Simon's Our Solar System (HarperCollins, 2007).—John Peters, New York Public Library
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From Booklist

Ages 5-8. Similar in format to her other books, this is Gibbons' introduction to the planets. Well designed and laid out, the pages feature appealing full-color illustrations of stargazers, astronomers, the solar system, and individual planets. Less satisfying is the accompanying text, which lacks focus and clarity. Still, given the popularity of Gibbons' work with teachers and kids and the growing demand for beginning books on astronomy, many libraries will find this a useful purchase. Carolyn Phelan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Holiday House; 3 edition (March 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0823421562
• ISBN-13: 978-0823421565
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 10.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,827 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #26 in Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Astronomy & Space > Astronomy

More About the Author

Gail Gibbons has published close to fifty distinguished nonfiction titles with Holiday House. According to "The Washington Post," "Gail Gibbons has taught more preschoolers and early readers about the world than any other children's writer-illustrator." She lives in Vermont. Her website is www.gailgibbons.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just a little bit more, March 25, 2002

By 

"a_mom" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Planets (Hardcover)

Gail Gibbons book on the planets contains just a little bit more information than most young children's books on the subject. From information on how and why planets and stars look differently in the night sky to the distances of each planet from the sun, there's more for curious minds to ponder.

The book begins by explaining a few difference between stars and planets. It continues with how the planets were named and the later discovery of the outer three. Then our solar system, orbits and rotations are discussed.

Each planet is then explained in detail. The book does a nice job of choosing facts to present and keeping the topics consistent from planet to planet. Each planet's distance from the sun, relative size, length of day and year and are included. When appropriate moons are mentioned. Unlike many other young children's books on the planets, information on some of the more well-known moons of other planets is given. Considering the target audience of the book, the information is nicely comprehensive.

Toward the end of the book astronomers and space craft are very briefly mentioned. No information on space travel is included. As the title implies, the book focuses on information about the planets.

The illustrations are nicely done; the book contains no photographs. The drawings, however, are very detailed and present the planets in a nice perspective. They are very well done.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good Introduction to space, but could use some fact checking, November 16, 2005

By 

T. Manteau "tman" (Wyckoff, NJ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Planets (Paperback)

My five year old daughter loves this book as it's concise and easy for her to read. She loves to learn the details of each planet and how many moons they have. This however is where our first problem arose. The book reports that Jupiter has 63 moons, and then on the following page states that Saturn has 36 moons "more than any other planet." Even a five year old knows that 36 isn't more than 63. Lesson learned: Don't believe everything you read." FYI: Saturn has 47 moons to date.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great for their earliest interest in space, June 12, 2009

By 

M. Heiss (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Planets (Hardcover)

This book is very readable at the kindergarten/first grade level. It's great to find a book for that first introduction. My kids read and re-read it. There are facts about every planet, nice illustrations, and comprehensible text.