Kimberly Kingman SLIB 510

Annotated Bibliography for Space Resources

Aguilar, D., A. (2013). Space encyclopedia: A tour of our solar system and beyond. Washington,
D.C.: National Geographic Children’s Books.
$21.61-This encyclopedia includes all things about space: planets. space exploration, galaxies &
space technology. The author works at the Havard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, so he is
very knowledgeable about this topic. The breath-taking photographs are straight from NASA.
This information-packed book is perfect for upper elementary.
Booklist
This attractive compendium of information about space is encyclopedic in the sense that its
scope is broad. The facts are presented in two- to eight-page highly illustrated articles within five
thematic sections. The first section, “What We Know,” comments on matters as diverse as the
big bang, dark energy, near-earth objects, and solar storms. The two longest sections are the tour
of our solar system (including dwarf planets and the Oort cloud) and the outward-looking
presentation on stars, galaxies, and the universe. The final sections, “Are We Alone?” and
“Dreams of Tomorrow,” look to the future. The articles are clearly written and informative, but
the visuals steal the show. Beautifully reproduced on heavy, glossy pages, the illustrations
include Aguilar’s often striking, imaginative artwork as well as many excellent images from
NASA. While the large pictures often show dramatically lit views of stars, galaxies, and planets,
the smaller pictures include useful cutaway views of planets and stars. An informative volume at
a very reasonable price. Grades 5-8. --Carolyn Phelan

DeCristofano, C., C. (2016). The sun and the moon. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.
$15.49-This STEM based resource is an informational picture book about the sun and moon.
This is a perfect read aloud for younger (K & 1st grade SOL) but could also benefit older students
(especially lower level ones). Follow along the journey of a boy & girl as they travel to outer
space in a spaceship to learn about the differences and similarities of the sun & moon. The book
includes a glossary, suggested further readings, website recommendations & science experiment
suggestions.
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 1-In this colorful work, a girl and a boy go on a voyage to discover more about the two
most noticeable celestial bodies: the sun and the moon. Readers are invited to join in by
identifying the sun and moon and discussing how they are seen on a regular basis, including the
different phases of the moon. The two protagonists blast off in a spaceship to explore the moon
from a closer vantage point. On the way, they learn about Earth's rotation, the distance between
the moon and Earth, what the moon's surface consists of, and a few things left on it by previous
explorers-from moon buggies to golf balls. Later, they zoom onward for a closer look at the sun
and learn about its composition, prominences, solar flares, and sunspots. Illustrations show the
pair looking back at Earth in the distance, keeping a sense of perspective along the journey. A
glossary of new words, several suggested experiments, and a list of websites add to the book's
usefulness and will appeal to students with various learning styles. Brightly colored illustrations
by Morley, made from watercolor and traditional media enhanced digitally, augment the text.
Each spread offers a different dramatic layout to keep children alert as pages are turned.
VERDICT A worthy addition to science collections looking for materials for beginner space
enthusiasts.-Suzanne LaPierre, Fairfax County Public Library, VA © Copyright 2016. Library
Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Deyoe, A. (2015). Planets: Out of this world [e-book]. Minneapolis, MN: Abdo Publishing.
$17.05 (single license)-This nonfiction e-book is perfect to teach about all the planets. It includes
great captions, breathtaking images & text features. The 3.4 reading level will be perfect for all
4th grade students to decode & comprehend. It includes updated & accurate facts about each
planet. The quiz at the end of the book will be helpful to evaluate comprehension.

School Library Connection, 04/30/2016

This set of titles on the solar system is a serviceable supplement for STEM collections. Intended
for very young audiences, the text consists primarily of original photos and illustrations,
accompanied by detailed captions, charts, graphs, timelines, and other graphics. Additional
features, such as careful lay-outs presented with corresponding information, allow emerging
readers to anticipate new vocabulary within context and build background knowledge. Visuals
that relate directly to content, reinforcing concepts, and a series of definitions and informational
bits come together to create satisfying topic overviews. The final pages of each book offer
straightforward quiz questions that provide checks for understanding, plus an open-ended query
that encourages audiences to think beyond the text. This set will be attractive to browsers,
independent readers, and young researchers alike. Glossary. Index. Table of Contents.</p>
Kathleen McBroom RECOMMENDED

Doudna, K. (2017). The moon [e-book]. Minneapolis, MN: Abdo Publishing.

$18.95 (single license)-A perfect resource for the 4th grade students (SOL: 4.2 a&c). This
nonfiction source covers moon phases, relationship to Earth & sun, motions (rotation), moon
history & composition. It even explains the history of space explorations to the moon. It includes
a 2-page guidebook filled with moon facts & text features: glossary, index, table of content &
suggested website for more information. This book is available for e-book or printed copy. On a
fourth-grade reading & interest level, this is a perfect addition to update the moon resources.
School Library Journal (April 1, 2017)
Gr 4-7-After reading this series, students are certain to walk away with a newfound appreciation
for the myriad wonders of the cosmos. Filled with an impressive amount of details each volume
introduces kids to scientific terms with unexpected definitions (Trojans are asteroids outside of
the asteroid belt) as well as the proper names of celestial bodies most likely unknown to casual
readers. One such example: the main arms of the Milky Way are named Scutum-Centaurus and
Perseus, while the minor arms are named Sagittarius and Norma (Galaxies). The inclusion of a
"Guidebook" in each tome reiterates data in a concise and straightforward format. Rich images
and artist's depictions as well as breathtaking photographs complete this appealing and
information-packed set. VERDICT Consider for collections that serve space buffs. © Copyright
2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution
permitted.

Gibbons, G. (2018). The planets. New York, NY: Holiday House.

$15.46- A perfect introduction to the planets for students of special populations or lower
levels. Gibbons covers each planet with specific details & updated, accurate facts in this 4th
edition of her book. It covers specific 4th grade SOLS including, planet order, planet size &
axes rotation. The simplistic drawings allow readers to focus on the informational text.

School Library Journal

K-Gr 2-Gibbons uses brief declarative sentences to describe the sun and each planet of the solar
system in succession, introducing concepts such as a day, a year, orbit, and rotation. Her
paintings sometimes tread the edge of oversimplicity; in a demonstration of day and night, there
is almost no contrast between the planet's light and dark sides, and though she mentions in the
text that Pluto is currently closer to the sun than Neptune, their orbits do not cross in the
illustrations. Still, the bright colors, simplified shapes, and spacious, uncomplicated page design
make this an inviting gateway to the subject. The book closes with an introduction to astronomy,
creating a natural transition to the author's Stargazers (Holiday, 1992).-John Peters, New York
Public Library (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media
Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Moraes, R., D. (Producer & Director). (2014). Live from space [motion picture]. USA: Arrow
Media.
$24.99- This media resource is live footage from NASA scientist in space from the International
Space Station and Mission Control in Houston. It is like taking a virtual field trip to space right
with the astronauts. This 90-minute documentary covers all things space, including space
exploration and all around the solar system, including the planets. Scenes include: view of the
Earth (sunrise & sunset), weather from space, city lights on Earth, shooting stars & more. A
space-packed media resource for upper elementary students.
School Library Journal
Grade 6 & up- In the late 1960s, NASA scientists started work on the Voyager Program to send
two space probes to photograph and study the little-known outer planets. After years of
development, Voyager One and Voyager Two provided an unprecedented amount of information
about our four largest planets as they aligned for the perfect flybys. The once-in-a-lifetime
chance to observe and study the outer reaches of the solar system prompted scientists to develop
a better comprehension of our galactic neighborhood and to send a time capsule of human
existence into interstellar space. The documentary interviews scientists and engineers to
understand the achievements and hardships of the Voyager mission while highlighting the
Voyager Golden Record. The record’s producers explain the purpose of the images and sounds
encoded on the phonograph record and how it may help extraterrestrial life find Earth. The
science and discoveries of the probes are the real stars here. The film is enhanced by beautiful
CGI re-creations of the probes traveling through space. Middle and high school science classes
will be captivated by the brilliant photos and inspired to research beyond Voyager. A bonus
short, “Second Genesis,” explains the science and endeavors to seek signs of life beyond planet
Earth as part of the Cassini probe mission. VERDICT The film goes above and beyond in
presenting the achievements of the little space probe that could. Lengthy, but students will want
to continue watching. A must-have for up-to-date space collections.–Thomas Jonte, Pensacola
State College, FL  This review was published in the School Library
Journal December 2017 issue.

Nataraj, N. (2017). The planets: Photographs from the archives of NASA. San Francisco, CA:
Chronicle Books.
$40.00 -Author Nirmala Nataraj returns for her 2nd book about space. This visual thriller is
compiled of more than 200 stunning images from the NASA archives. Many of the images were
taken from the Apollo 11 mission. The planets are introduced in order of their distance from the
sun (SOL 4.5b). The book also covers planet discovery history, dwarf planets, the sun, comets &
asteroids. Each image is included with a caption containing informative facts. A preface written
by Bill Nye, the science guys starts the book with a summary on the history of NASA missions
and the future of space exploration.

Library Journal
Narrated by award-winning author Nataraj (Earth and Space) and including a foreword by
scientist Bill Nye, this extraordinary journey of the solar system consists of more than 200
photographs from the archives of NASA and images of all eight planets and other major objects
in the solar system, including the sun, asteroids, comets, and dwarf planets. These striking,
detailed images are enhanced through a variety of photographic techniques, such as filtering,
color enhancement, false color radar, and computer-generated imagery. As a result, their clarity
reveals such features as lava flows on Venus, the canyons of Mars, ice on Jupiter's moon Europa,
and the mountain ranges of Pluto. Among the other photographic high points are the surface of
the moon taken from Apollo 11, panoramic views of Mars from the Mars Rover, and the rare
transit of Venus across the face of the sun in 2013. Included is a brief history of planetary
discovery and the NASA missions that were instrumental in acquiring the current information
about the solar system. VERDICT Recommended for anyone interested in astronomy, space
exploration, or photography.-Dave Pugl, Ela Area P.L., Lake Zurich, IL © Copyright 2018.
Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution
permitted.

Shekhtman, L. & Thompson, J. (2019). NASA science: Planets in our solar system. Retrieved
from: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/overview/

$0-A reliable online database for space information. This website includes an overview of all
planets (including dwarf & hypothetical ones). It has sections of information on: solar system,
planets, moons (for each planet) & asteroids/comets/meteors. With real images from NASA
satellites in space, the images are a virtual feast. It includes a section on related news & latest
informational updates. The coolest feature is a live-time map of the solar system that changes as
the time changes so students can see what the actual positions of planets & moons in the solar
system in live-time. A perfect free resource to add to the planet collection.

Owen, R. (2014). The moon. New York, NY: Windmill Books.

$21.24- A nonfiction treasure covering everything you need to know about the moon: moon
phases, moon’s history, physical composition, surface (craters), rotation with Earth, & eclipses,
relationship to the earth (effect on tides). This book includes biographical references, table of
contents, glossary, further suggested readings, an index & captions. Images are real photographs
with captions clearly explaining the pictures. For students grades 3-6, this would be a perfect
addition to the space collection.
Library Media Connection (August/September 2014)
This series is a stunning, readable introduction to our solar system. Each volume contains an
explanation of the birth of our sun and the formation of all the other bodies in our solar system.
The explanations are clear and well-written; much of the information is repeated in each volume
but the unique, important features of each title object are described. The narrative reveals how
scientists evaluate evidence and form theories. The explanations are phrased in language and
examples children can understand. Numerous diagrams expand and help readers understand the
text. Captions explain if objects are pictured to scale. Pictures are also labeled to highlight
specific features discussed in the text. These volumes will support the inquiry projects proposed
in Common Core Standards. The illustrations and diagrams will aid lessons using a whiteboard.
Bibliography. Glossary. Websites. Table of Contents. Index. Dr. Audrey Irene Daigneault,
Educational Reviewer, Norwich, Connecticut. Highly Recommended

Simon, S. (2014). Our solar system. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.
$15.49- This book is a guide to all things space for upper elementary students. This revised
edition contains accurate content with updated facts & photographs. This book contains a
glossary, introductory pages & an overview of the planets, moon & sun. It contains specific facts
relating to the fourth grade SOL, like the order of the planets. Using real photographs from
NASA makes the pictures a virtual field trip for the eyes.
Booklist
Gr. 2-6. Reusing many of the striking NASA photographs from his books on individual planets
and the Sun, Simon takes readers on a quick tour of the Solar System. After several introductory
pages placing the system within the galaxy and showing the order of the planets, he discusses the
Sun, planets, moons, and comets and meteors. Dramatic, full-color photos offer stunning views
of these objects. Occasionally, paintings and diagrams also illustrate points, such as the
greenhouse effect on Venus and the asteroid belt. In a practical move, Simon supplies a great
deal of planetary information (distance from the Sun, equatorial diameter, atmospheric gases,
surface gravity, number of satellites and rings) on the endpapers, along with a picture showing
the relative sizes of the planets and the Sun. One of those "must have" books for children's
nonfiction collections, this will be useful as well as beautiful for years to come. Consider
multiple copies. (Reviewed Oct. 15, 1992)0688099920Carolyn Phelan

Stuart, C. (2019). Discover our solar system. Lewes, UK: Button Books.
$15.49- A perfect summary of all things space for elementary age students. Geared for ages 8+,
this nonfiction book includes text features, captions & infographics on a range of space topics:
moon, sun, planets, space exploration, comets & asteroids. Published in 2019, it has the most up-
to-date facts & information.
Kirkus Reviews (February 15, 2019)
An overview of our solar system, from the sun to the Kuiper Belt, and how we are exploring it.
As solar-system tours go, it’s a quick flyby, but it’s also lively and unusually rich in uncommon
observations and insights. Following views of the Big Bang and the history of astronomy, Stuart
stops at the sun, then Mercury, Venus (where human visitors would be “baked, crushed, and
dissolved”), and each other planet in succession. On the way, he cogently argues that Mars is the
“most explored” planet, as we have better maps of its surface than our own ocean bottoms. The
journey is rounded out with a mixed bag of topical spreads ranging from a gallery of dwarf
planets to a timeline of our outer-space ventures up to Elon Musk’s 2018 SpaceX rocket launch
and a diagrammatic look at a modern Soyuz launch and return. In the illustrations, satellites and
spacecraft, enlarged images of select moons, exploded views, fact boxes, and digestible narrative
blocks orbit Brandon-King’s larger, reasonably realistic planetary portraits. Occasional scenes
feature light- and dark-skinned human figures of all genders peering into telescopes or floating in
vacuum. A memorable flight for prospective space travelers. (glossary) (Nonfiction. 9-11)