In Hello, Nebulon!, Zack makes the big move from Earth. He is already nervous about starting school and making new friends, but it only gets worse when he dreams that his classmates are slimy aliens with tentacles, pizza comes covered in gross bugs, and he can never communicate with his Earth friends again! Fortunately, when Zack arrives at Sprockets Academy for his first day of school, he meets and befriends Drake Tucker, a Nebulite boy who also loves to explore and learn about the planets. Nebulon isnt as awful as Zacks dream, but there are a lot of differences between Nebulon and Earth, and they make Zack miss his home in Dubbsville, Texas, even more. But things start to look up when he receives a mysterious surprise. What could it possibly be?
This series makes a promising start as Zack and his family move to the planet Nebulon. As a child of the 70's I am reminded of the Jetsons. The ease of travel, home design and in-home robot are very similar. Also, Zack and his sisters attend a school named Sprocket Academy! Boys and girls will find this series helps them to navigate the bridge between readers and standard juvenile fiction. Definitely would recommend to kids in 2nd grade. Yippee-wah wah!
Science fiction for kids just getting into early chapter books? Excellent! That's what we have in Hello, Nebulon!, the first book of the Galaxy Zack series, written by an enthusiast of the original Star Trek television show and other sci-fi entertainment. This is a genre not often explored for kids learning to read on their own, and it's a refreshing addition to literature for that age group. Like most children obligated to move to a new home because of a parent's job, eight-year-old Zack Nelson is unhappy and scared about the switch, but he's moving much farther than most. Zack, his parents, and eleven-year-old twin sisters Charlotte and Cathy are moving from Earth to planet Nebulon. For Zack, this means leaving his friends and school for a place populated by aliens, and he has no idea what to expect. Gazing wistfully back from the space cruiser as Earth recedes behind him, Zack tries not to worry.
Customs on Nebulon are clearly different from the moment Zack's family arrives. Their new house looks strange, but is packed with sophisticated technology, including a service system named Ira (Indoor Robotic Assistant) that's wired throughout the house. Any request by Zack or his family is filled by Ira within seconds. Nebulon might not be so bad, though Zack misses Bert, his best friend from Earth, and Luna, Zack's dog. At least Luna will join them on Nebulon shortly, but it's hard to wait when so much else in Zack's life is changed.
Zack approaches his first day of school nervously, but the adjustment is nowhere near as bad as he feared. The subjects aren't dramatically different from what he studied on Earth, and Drake, a Nebulon boy, becomes his friend before the day is done. Lunchtime protocol and recreational activities are going to take getting used to, but even that isn't as daunting with a friend to help clue him in about the way things work on Nebulon. There may never come a time when Zack doesn't miss Earth, but he's ready to make the best of living in a new region of space, and Drake is pleased to share the experience with him. Growing up on an alien planet promises to be a spectacular adventure.
Colin Jack's illustrations are entertaining, and I like the whimsical technological innovations in the story (spudsy melonade sounds and looks like a drink I'd want, and I'm sure Zack is right that it "rules!"), but my favorite part of Hello, Nebulon! is its hopeful assurance that whatever changes in our life, however crazy and massive it is, we can adapt. What change could be as drastic as moving to a far-off planet where humans are rarely seen? If Zack has the courage to bloom in a foreign world, making friends with alien kids and learning their customs, then we can handle anything that rocks us here on Earth. That's a noble truth, and this book imparts it simply by Zack's positive example. I love him as a main character, and I'm impressed by the start to the Galaxy Zack series. I'll for sure be reading more of it. Happy travels, fellow space explorers.
A cute little boy named Zack moves from Earth to a planet called Nebulon. Nothing is the same as Zack’s home planet. The sky, land, and water are different colors than on Earth, the cars fly, and the Nebulites speak very differently. Zack is nervous to move and he thinks no one will like him at school. He has to get used to everything on Nebulon. Hello Nebulon is an early chapter book with lots of awesome pictures (on every page) and words that are easy to read. Boys and girls will both like this book. Ages 6-8 would love to read it on their own but younger kids would love having it read to them because they’d like the story and pictures.
My favorite parts are the cool gadgets like the little box that turns into a car when you push a button, Zack’s bed that comes down from the ceiling at night, and the elevator in his house that goes in every direction. There’s even an Indoor Robotic Assistant (IRA) that is wired throughout the house and does almost everything for Zack and his family. The whole book is my favorite part! The writing and story are both incredibly awesome. Zack is so lovable and that makes the book even more enjoyable. I give this book one hundred stars! I wish I could visit Nebulon.
Review by Young Mensan Connor C., age 6, Boston Mensa
Hello Nebulon! is part of the Galaxy Zack series. This book won a Golden Duck Award for Middle Grades in 2014. This book is about a boy named Zack who moves from Earth to Nebulon. Zack is extremely nervous about entering a new planet and already misses his friends back home. His new house is full of interesting technology, which is entertaining to read about. Zack attends Sprocket Academy and meets a friendly boy named Drake. Zack’s negative attitudes towards his new school and Nebulon begin to change with the help of Drake and some surprises! There is an illustration on each page, but in chapter book format. The illustrations break up the text, which can help students feel less overwhelmed when reading it independently. Additionally, oftentimes the entire page is dark grey to reflect the mood of the story. Also, this book would be a great read aloud or independent read for students, especially for classes that have new students. The new students would be able to relate to this book. Students could compare and contrast their own lives to Zack’s life. Students may have similar feelings towards school, meeting friends, and exploring. Furthermore, there is no diverse theme present within this story.
یک نفر با صدای عجیب و نازکی گفت: «خب، بچه ها، وقت درس زبان زربانی است. باید بدانید اهل سیاره ی زربان چه طور حرف می زنند.» زاک چشم هایش را باز کرد. او در کلاس درس در سیاره ی نبولن بود. همه ی هم کلاسی هایش شبیه هیولاهای مختلف بودند. موجودات لاغری با شاخک هایی که از آن ها مایعی می چکید، دور و برش نشسته بودند." . احتمالا با دل و روح و روان بچه ها بازی کند ولی این گونه کتاب ها که بچه ها رو به آن سوی رویاهاشون می بره و بر فرض مثال اگر من یک پیتزای پپرونی از پدرم بخوام و پدرم با چشمکی اون رو برام حاضر کنه یا همه چیز اونطوری که من می خوام باشه باشه... هیچوقت بچه ها رو با واقعیت های زندگیشون آشنا نمی کنه و بیشتر بچه ها رو به هپروت (نمیدونم املاشو درست نوشتم یا نه) می بره... ولی خب باید قسمت های دیگشم خوند تا دقیق متوجه شد که آیا زاک با چالش هایی هم روبه رو میشه یا نه...
Galaxy Zack: Hello, Nebulon! By Ray O’Ryan Illustrated by Colin Jack
Have you ever had to move to a new city? A new country? How about a new planet? Galaxy Zack: Hello, Nebulon! is the first book in a series about a boy named Zack and his experience relocating several million miles away from Earth to a new planet called Nebulon. This 2014 Golden Duck (Eleanor Cameron) Award Winner chapter book, written by Ray O’Ryan, will appeal to readers in grades 2-5. Readers who have experienced leaving behind their friends, their school, and even their pets in order to move to a new place will relate to this science fiction and space fantasy. I was fortunate to find this book on the Golden Duck Awards website: http://www.goldenduckawards.org/ I read this book as an ebook on my kindle fire. I appreciated the ability to make notes and highlight in the book without damaging it.
Readers can immediately connect to Zack’s feelings of sadness, nervousness, and uncertainty as he is traveling from Earth to his new home in Nebulon. When Zack arrives on Nebulon he notices unfamiliar and odd things about his new home. For instance, he has to use an elevator to get from one room to another in his new house, IRA or the Indoor Robotic Assistant (imagine Amazon's-Alexa) can makes any kind of food Zack wants, and all the kids ride speedy, floating Nebulon bikes. Both the author and illustrator do a great job describing Nebulon, and immersing the reader in Zack’s new world. Eventually, Zack goes to school and meets a Nebulon native, Drake. The two become best friends.
Teachers can recommend this book to students who are transitioning between easy readers and chapter books. Colin Jack’s cartoon illustrations help support readers by providing picture clues and clarification to some of the “sci.fi” motifs such as self-navigating cars and floating bikes. This book could be read in a literature circle and used to discuss meaningful themes such as moving, friendship, and trying new things. It can also be recommended to reluctant readers who like science fiction. The clear and logical progression of the story also lends itself to a great discussion about story elements and would be great material for a book report. Overall, this book has a wonderful and engaging story and humorous pictures that transport young readers to a new world, and keeps them entertained page after page!
Galaxy Zack: Hello, Nebulon! is a short chapter book geared toward 2nd and 3rd grade readers written by Ray O’Ryan and Colin Jack. The year is 2120 and Zack’s family, who are humans, is moving from Earth to the planet Nebulon, where Nebulites live. The family has traveled to other planets many times but never permanently. Zack is worried about missing his friends and the things that are familiar to him. He quickly learns about the cool new features of his new home and that he can make new friends in a new place. The book received the Eleanor Cameron Award within the Golden Duck Awards for Excellence in Children’s Science Fiction, and I came across the title when perusing the list. This book is considered high quality due to its well written story that tells about a theme to which both the character and the reader can relate. The first thought I had about this book is that it would be great for a social-emotional lesson or a lesson at the beginning of the school year. New students may connect to Zack’s feelings about leaving home and coming to a new place. Other students may empathize with Zack’s characters and make sure to include any new students in their class. This text would be great for readers in 2nd or 3rd grade who are ready to read stories more independently.
Graham said it was very fun! It wasn’t as fun for me to read out loud because there’s a lottt of dialog and reading “he said” “she said” out loud got annoying. But the story was cute.
I am not the biggest Science fiction fan out there, but this was a book that caught my attention pretty early on. The genuine human emotions shown from the main character Zack drew me in. Any child who has experienced moving from home or not can connect to some of the things that Zack is feeling. That is a major theme. The other one is hope that things will get better. New experiences are tough, but Zack shows that it is a good thing that even though one might be struggling, to take it in stride and see what happens! The illustration and setting will spark curiosity for all children ages 4th grade and down. This book was read digitally for me.
Hello, Nebulon! is a story a story about a boy named Zack. He and his family have to move from Texas, to a planet called Nebulon. At first Zack is sad because he has to leave earth, but when he gets to Nebulon he finds an alien boy who likes to explore planets. Zack learns that his expectations of this planet are not what he thought it would be. Even though this book is for children, it is fun to read and I will definitely would recommend it. The drawings help to get engage with the story and the sense of adventure makes it more enjoyable.
I love the Nebulon world and all the adorable names the author gave to things. Who wouldn't love to have an uberzoon. The setting and the characters were the charm in this book. The plot was lacking.
Zack is not excited about moving to Nebulon. He is afraid it'll be a horrible place and he won't have any friends. Will Nebulon live up to Zack's worst fears or does is it about to surprise him?
Moving is rough for any kid. Moving schools and making new friends is also pretty hard. But moving to a new culture and foreign location full of new greetings, foods, and ways of doing things can be down right exhausting mentally and physically. It is totally understandable for Zack to be worried and fearful, but I love the surprises Nebulon has in store for him. No, not everyone's new location will be so fantastic or welcoming, but at least Zack's experience can give other movers hope. And of course, this is just a really fun read. Zack's new home comes with some pretty spiffy amenities, including an elevator I haven't seen the likes of since Charlie Bucket's ride. Kid's should love exploring Nebulon with Zack. I know I did. Now I need to go read more of his books! A very fun and attractively illustrated scifi tale for kids who like wild tales that they can still relate to.
I read this with the eight-year-old boy I am tutoring! This book is great for kids that are transitioning from full-colour chapter books to black and white with smaller and sometimes less detailed illustrations. (It's also about an 'N' level for those using the levelling system). The characters are by far the highlight of the series with the setting coming in at a close second. There's plenty of opportunity for conversation around comparing and contrasting Earth with Nebulon and Zack with Drake. When I asked my student if he wanted to continue he said "Yes because I kinda wanna see more places and find out more about the characters." My only complaint is that the plot is kinda lacking in this first one. That said, the focus on character gives readers a chance to build a connection to the setting, premise, and characters. Based on the titles and covers of future books, I'm sure the plot will be a much bigger element of the rest of the series!
This is a chapter book written by Ray O’Ryan and illustrated by Colin Jack.
Zach and his family are moving to Nebulon because his dad got a job at Nebulonics. During the trip, Zach misses his friends from Earth. He is also concern that his new classmates may be big ugly aliens and he would probably eat unusual food. When his family arrives to Nebulon, his concerns completely change when he discovers his new home and school. There are black and white cartoon like illustrations in every page.
The book is recommended for ages 5-7, Kindergarten to Second Grade. Teachers can recommend the book during stations or read-out-loud.
What would it be like to move to another planet? Would the food be the same? Would everyone speak English? Zack Nelson takes the journey to Nebulon in the year 2120, leaving his Earthy home and all his friends behind. While he is nervous about starting school and making friends, he soon realizes that his new life in Nebulon is very similar to what he experienced back on Earth. This is the perfect book for any child who is struggling to cope after moving to a new city or state. It gives them encouragement on how to handle new situations. Everyone experiences worry when they move to a new place, even in the year 2120!
Cute. Very cute. Also, unique and kooky. I loved all the kooky artwork. I really have nothing negative to say about this book. The writing is actually something I would've enjoyed as a young child. The writing isn't dumbed-down or 'too babyish' as I remember calling some things back then. The story itself is admittedly slow-paced and not really for a reader who wants some sort of big climax, like say if this were to have some antagonist for the main character to defeat, but for this kind of story, this really works as is. To a reader who perhaps dreams of moving to a new place to start again and meeting new people, this story will definitely resonate. 5 stars.
If you ever wanted to spend time in the Jetson's world, you will enjoy this book. Flying cars, food delivered on your command and beds that lower from the ceiling are just some of the fun features of a life on Nebulon, the setting of this book. At first, Zack isn't too thrilled to be leaving Earth, but new friends and interesting machines on Nebulon make his new home more interesting. I enjoyed the book, but felt like not very much happened except the move to Nebulon. I am curious to see what problems Zack will face on Nebulon in the next book.
This is a chapter book that starts to tip the balance in words to pictures. If you have a young reader that you want to move from pictures to words this book is a great start. It is first in a series about a boy who moves to a new planet when his father finds a new job. Relocating in space is a great way to tackle subjects like fitting in, feeling different, adjusting to a new school, finding friends, being scared, etc in a fund lighthearted manner. The book also does a great job of setting Zack up for all sorts of future escapades.
I read this book to my youngest daughter and she is hooked! Going back in time, I had read the entire series to my oldest daughter years ago...and it was a fun adventure. Fast-forward to now...I am back at it and getting another fan of the series. This book is about the Nelson family moving from Earth to a planet called Nebulon. Trying to adjust to all the new things, and trying to fit in. A great book for the kids and the art is fun and helps keep them engaged. Great series for helping kids read a bit more on their own too!
It's the year 2120, and Zack and his family are moving to the planet Nebulon for his dad's new job. Zack's twin sisters have each other and are each other's friends, but Zack has no one and isn't looking forward to making new friends. It all works out though! I like that future world that Zack lives in is cool but also imaginable for early elementary readers. Also, the Nebulites aren't big-eyed green aliens.
This book was great! The only thing that brought it down to four, is that it started out with him in the space cruiser an hour away from nebulon. I think it should have started with Zack on earth so that he could be introduced better. But I love sci-fi, and the universe! I think it’s a great book for kids who love science fiction. I also thought it was so cool maybe I should say ‘grape’ and unnatural, when Zack’s dad pushed a button on a machine and it turned into a floating Nebulon car.
Fun, clever, and sweet chapter book, the first in a series. Jack moves with his family to the planet of Nebulon and goes through all of the things that a child experiences in a new place and situation. Even though Jack misses Earth, he finds some things to love about his new planet. It was pleasant to read a children's book where all the characters are endearing and have a positive outlook. Perfect for young elementary school readers with an interest in sci-fi.
A classic moving to a new home and school story with a twist of space thrown in. Zack learns to adjust to new social customs on his new planet while enjoying the perks of space age technology just like the Jetsons. A higher quality young fiction title with smooth plotline and writing. A perk for this genre.
I'm a beginner in English, so my English isn't very good yet. To change that, I read English books. Children's books are very suitable and that's how I found this series. It was very easy to understand and even at the age of 41 I thought the first book was great. I am excited which way it will continue.
Galaxy Zack Hello Nebulon. This book is the best book in the galaxy Zack series. First of all, it started the Journy. second thing is that it was really fun to read it's not long neither short that's why i think this book deserves a 4-star rating that's my review for Galaxy Zack hello nebulon. Really good book
It was a cute story for beginning chapter book readers. I just wish it had laid off some gender stereotypes a bit. But a fun Jetsons like look at the future for kids. A little lacking in plot. I assume it’s a set up for future books in the series.
3.5 stars. Fun sci-fi book about an 8yo boy who moves to a new planet with his family. At first he misses earth, but he begins to assimilate to his new planet. Lots of pictures and large font. Definitely would recommend to kids who like sci-fi.
My 5-year-old son and I read this book aloud together and he loved it. The mix of photos and sentence structure was perfect for his level. We both enjoyed the story and kept his attention. We read it in 3 sittings (2-3 chapters per night). He asked if we could immediately start book #2!
Hey, aliens can be just like us! It bugged me, though that actual details were wrong: if you're leaving Earth, Venus and Mars are in opposite directions so you won't see them together. This would run easy for 3rd graders, but maybe not enough details for the 3rd grade reading challenge.