Customer Reviews

Ten Worlds: Everything That Orbits the Sun

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

On the basis of its striking design and photographs, this handsome, large-format volume is well worthy of praise. And astronomer Croswell's (See the Stars) concise yet conversational, information-packed text wins it sky-high accolades in the narrative sphere as well. As the author takes readers on an elucidating tour of the solar system--traveling outwards from the sun--brilliantly colored photos of each planet and of their moons (mostly NASA shots) pop dramatically from a black background, while the text appears against pastel-toned panels. Croswell authoritatively explains the physical characteristics, temperature and atmospheric makeup of the planets; tells how they were named; examines comets, meteors and asteroids; and details the knowledge gleaned from spacecrafts' photographs and specific astronomers' discoveries. He confidently puts forth his own theories (he believes in the theory that an asteroid killed off the dinosaurs and allowed other forms of life to evolve, including humans). Timely references to recently launched spacecraft and their missions, and an intriguing look at "the tenth planet" (discovered in 2005, the planet takes 559 years to orbit the sun), attest to the book's relevance. Colorful, accessible analogies abound: remarking that stars shine during the day as well as the night, yet are washed out by sunlight, Croswell notes, "In the same way, you can't hear a soft flute when a loud car goes by." Concluding with charts that handily round up statistics about the planets and their moons, this eye-opening book will feed kids' curiosity about the worlds beyond earth. Ages 6-up.

In 2005, for the first time since 1930, a new planet was discovered. Suddenly, all sorts of classroom materials pertaining to the solar system were obsolete.

Ten Worlds is a book that introduces young readers to this new planet as well as the other 9 planets and the moons that orbit them. He includes the latest discoveries about these worlds.

For instance, Croswell relates how Neptune's moon Triton is the only moon in the solar system that orbits its planet clockwise. Also that the planet Saturn is so light that it would float in water and that billions of years ago, Mars had flowing water.

The book is replete with excellent illustrations and has chapters covering other aspects of the solar system such as asteroids, meteors and comets. The book is very well written and has several informative charts.

This is a must book for all public school libraries as well as parents who home school their children.

Ten Worlds: Everything That Orbits The Sun comers from a Harvard-trained astronomer who provides an intriguing guide to fantastic places. Here the most exciting sights of our solar system are captured with vivid color photos and high drama, from the Sun to Pluto and beyond, to the latest 10th planet discovery. Text provides details suitable for beginning reports but it's the color photos which are the real eye-catcher for grades 3-5.

The reading level on this book is third grade and up -- it is very texty, full of dates, distances, measurements, and hypotheses. It is difficult to use this book to boil down concrete points about the planets to a flashcard format, for example. That is what I was having the kids do. The book is much, much better for giving kids a visual experience of the solar system.

The book itself is a large hardcover book filled on every page with drop-dead gorgeous, full-page-size photographs of the planets and some of their moons. The photos are breathtaking.

As with any sciency book, some info is out of date, but I can never get tired of beautiful photos of our known world. For up-to-date information, I would recommend you get on your local planetarium's mailing list, or join an astronomy club. Our Dorrance Planetarium at the Arizona Science Center is top-notch, if you don't have one near you.

TEN WORLDS: EVERYTHING THAT ORBITS THE SUN comes from a Harvard-trained astronomer who offers kids a guide to the fantastic realms and unsolved mysteries of the universe. The excitement of first discovery of the exciting sights of the universe from the sun to the newly found tenth planet are revealed in a colorful survey certain to interest kids in astronomy.

Diane C. Donovan

California Bookwatch

Ugh, I wish I could have had a closer look at this big shiny hardcover book before I purchased it (based on reviews here at amazon). I rate it closer to 2.5 stars, with that extra half a star for the idea of wanting to have a more current book available than all the old texts that only go to Pluto.

This book is a thin hardcover, with way too much text for the format. The "tenth planet" of the title is, as near as I can tell, the body currently known as Eris. The book states that it is more distant than Sedna. Sedna is currently believed to hold a very far-flung eccentric orbit, and to be in fact a visitor from the posited Oort clouds.

I was so disappointed in this book that I have not read much more of it yet. There are probably some nice pictures and charts, but I wanted new, current info, and that is not what you'll find here. This book may well have been out of date by the time it made it through the publishing process and out to the market, having started as a manuscript that was completely au courant.

Parents, kids, and other interested parties do indeed need a book that will tell us of the worlds beyond Pluto, but this is not it! Don't waste your money on this book; pick up magazines now and then, and surf the Internet with an eye on the dates of what you find. If you do know of a book that comes out and brings us up to date on Sedna, Eris and Quaoar, please email me with the title. Thank you.