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Simple language introduces our solar system to young explorers, and includes all of the planets and dwarf planets, and lots of fascinating fun facts.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published July 10, 2012
65 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Carney
85 books21 followersElizabeth Carney is a writer and editor based in Brooklyn, New York. She specializes in children's nonfiction and science, math, and STEM-related subjects.
Elizabeth received the 2005 AAAS Science Journalism Award for science reporting for children. Her titles Face to Face With Cheetahs, Face to Face With Gorillas, and Great Migrations: Whales, Wildebeests, Butterflies, Elephants, and Other Amazing Animals on the Move appeared on the National Science Teachers Association's Outstanding Science Trade Book list for 2008, 2009, and 2010, respectively.
Elizabeth received the 2005 AAAS Science Journalism Award for science reporting for children. Her titles Face to Face With Cheetahs, Face to Face With Gorillas, and Great Migrations: Whales, Wildebeests, Butterflies, Elephants, and Other Amazing Animals on the Move appeared on the National Science Teachers Association's Outstanding Science Trade Book list for 2008, 2009, and 2010, respectively.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
April 22, 2018
I guess that NONE of the National Geographic Kids Readers seem to include bibliographies, citations and suggestions for further reading, and while this massively bothers me in and of itself, with Elizabeth Carney's Planets, the shortcomings of not featuring such supplemental information and research possibilities really have hit home for me so to speak. For while Planets does indeed present an organised and decently informational introduction to the solar system, to our sun and the planets, due to the fact that this book is obviously geared to and has been conceptualised for recently independent child readers, it is thus by nature and plain necessity rather simplistic and sparse in detail and description (definitely understandable, albeit I do rather fault the author for not mentioning that Pluto used to be considered one of the planets and that its status of now being considered a dwarf planet is a relatively recent phenomenon). And yes indeed (and in my humble opinion) because the factual information on the Sun, on Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars etc. is so lacking in detail (by the necessity of author Elizabeth Carney wanting to and also needing to keep her textual content, her printed words easily accessible to and for recently independent readers), supplemental, more detailed information that is not part of the text proper (including bibliographical information, including suggestions for further study and research) should really be a given, should be an absolutely required, necessary addition (as there will likely be both children and parents who might well desire more content, who might want more details, more information and the lack of websites, of possible books where this might be found, where this might be looked up in Planets, this really does sadly limit its potential teaching and learning value, especially with regard to easy and quick supplemental study and research).
Two and a half stars for Planets (and while I have indeed found Planets a generally readable, and above all a well organised introduction to the solar system, to the planets for young readers, the combination of a lack of any and all bibliographical lists, the complete absence of suggestions for further study and knowledge expansion alongside of those silly, lame and yes indeed noticeably repetitive riddles and puns is enough for me to once again only consider a two star ranking at best, although I do in fact and actually consider Planets as an adequate enough introduction to the solar system, but with definite and personally frustrating, annoying limitations).
Two and a half stars for Planets (and while I have indeed found Planets a generally readable, and above all a well organised introduction to the solar system, to the planets for young readers, the combination of a lack of any and all bibliographical lists, the complete absence of suggestions for further study and knowledge expansion alongside of those silly, lame and yes indeed noticeably repetitive riddles and puns is enough for me to once again only consider a two star ranking at best, although I do in fact and actually consider Planets as an adequate enough introduction to the solar system, but with definite and personally frustrating, annoying limitations).
March 1, 2019
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel into outer space? What do you think you might see?
Students can scan this book in from “what’s new” on abc mouse. It is filled with lots solar system facts, riddles, & great illustrations! What a great way to have fun while learning & tell “out of this world” planet jokes around Valentine’s Day, like “What did Neptune say to Saturn?” 🤣
Students can scan this book in from “what’s new” on abc mouse. It is filled with lots solar system facts, riddles, & great illustrations! What a great way to have fun while learning & tell “out of this world” planet jokes around Valentine’s Day, like “What did Neptune say to Saturn?” 🤣
November 29, 2017
Summary: This National Geographic text for kids explains how the solar system, and the planets in it, works.
Evaluation: Like all National Geographic text and resources, the information is accurate and can be trusted by all users. The information included tells of what the different planets are made of, physical characteristics, and fun facts about each planet that makes them unique.
Teaching Idea: Use this text for a science unit about the solar system. Read the text to your class or have them read it themselves in groups. In lower level classes (1st-3rd grade), let students make a reference book about each planet with specific facts for each one and a picture to show the physical characteristics of the planets. For higher level classes (4th and 5th grade), in those same groups, have the students make a “scaled” model of what they think the solar system looks like by using different sized spheres. Once the groups are done, perform a more accurate scaling of the planets and their size based on one another.
Evaluation: Like all National Geographic text and resources, the information is accurate and can be trusted by all users. The information included tells of what the different planets are made of, physical characteristics, and fun facts about each planet that makes them unique.
Teaching Idea: Use this text for a science unit about the solar system. Read the text to your class or have them read it themselves in groups. In lower level classes (1st-3rd grade), let students make a reference book about each planet with specific facts for each one and a picture to show the physical characteristics of the planets. For higher level classes (4th and 5th grade), in those same groups, have the students make a “scaled” model of what they think the solar system looks like by using different sized spheres. Once the groups are done, perform a more accurate scaling of the planets and their size based on one another.
January 17, 2018
I liked it but I'm not really a space person, I like animal stuff.
April 27, 2018
Love this book, especially the pictures. Good book to read with young children.
April 6, 2020
Read this via ABC mouse which was pretty cool! Illustrations and photos are easy for a preschooler to follow even if they can’t read yet.
September 10, 2016
1) This book is full of fun facts and riddles to figure out the planet each page and clue is describing. This book has everything from information about the Sun, the Solar System, the Moon, Dwarf Planets, and Earth. The book also has a section in the back to "Stump Your Parents" that allows the children to ask their parents the questions and see if they will know the answer, which I thought was fun and interactive for the students. All in all, I think this book would be great to use in the classrom!
2) Age Level: 5-8 years old, Grade Level: Kindergarten-3rd grade
3) Appropriate classroom use for this book would be during a science lesson, or when the students are learning about planets and the solar system
4) Individual students who might benefit from reading would be students wanting a more in depth description of the solar system, with vivid pictures to go along with each explanation.
5) As far as small group use with this book I would use this book, and some of the other series of this book and let them go around to different centers and read a different one at each center and let them ask the questions in the back of the book to each other.
6) As far as whole group use, we would figure out the riddles on each page interacting the whole class and letting the students try and guess what each page is describing, and then possibly have them create their own riddle pertaining to the Solar System.
7) Related Books: Volcanoes, Weird Sea Creatures, & Weather
8) There is a Kindle version of this book, and there are also many videos leading off of this book and many other topics on the National Geographic Kids website, which would be great for the classroom!
2) Age Level: 5-8 years old, Grade Level: Kindergarten-3rd grade
3) Appropriate classroom use for this book would be during a science lesson, or when the students are learning about planets and the solar system
4) Individual students who might benefit from reading would be students wanting a more in depth description of the solar system, with vivid pictures to go along with each explanation.
5) As far as small group use with this book I would use this book, and some of the other series of this book and let them go around to different centers and read a different one at each center and let them ask the questions in the back of the book to each other.
6) As far as whole group use, we would figure out the riddles on each page interacting the whole class and letting the students try and guess what each page is describing, and then possibly have them create their own riddle pertaining to the Solar System.
7) Related Books: Volcanoes, Weird Sea Creatures, & Weather
8) There is a Kindle version of this book, and there are also many videos leading off of this book and many other topics on the National Geographic Kids website, which would be great for the classroom!
May 23, 2013
I think that this book is really only going to be something special to kids who know very little about the solar system. My kindergarten aged nephew knew a bit; he told me that Earth was the third planet from the sun, he knew the planets furthest from the sun are the coldest, and he knew that Wall-e is a rover, similar to the Mars rovers pictured in this book. The problem was, the book was a little too long to hold his interest the whole time. We read this in Kindle format, so maybe if we would have had the bigger pictures afforded by paper books, he'd have had a longer attention span.
My third grade niece already knew most of the information presented in the book, so while she listened to it, I don't think that she really learned anything particularly new. A few things were new, but most of the book was solar system basics.
I guess, that as Earth is in relation to the sun, a kid just has to be in the sweet-spot educationally/developmentally speaking in order get the most from this book. First or second grade, perhaps? Also, go paper with this one.
My third grade niece already knew most of the information presented in the book, so while she listened to it, I don't think that she really learned anything particularly new. A few things were new, but most of the book was solar system basics.
I guess, that as Earth is in relation to the sun, a kid just has to be in the sweet-spot educationally/developmentally speaking in order get the most from this book. First or second grade, perhaps? Also, go paper with this one.
August 25, 2018
Just the right length, I was just about to chuck it all and pow! it was over!
November 30, 2020
1. Awards the book has received (if any): Elizabeth Carney won the AAAS Science Journalism Award (2005)
2. Appropriate grade level(s): K-3
3. Original 3-line summary: This book explains our solar system and planets. The author describes their appearance and some key features. She focuses specifically on the Sun and Earth for some pages. At the end of the book, there is a quiz covering much of the information stated in the book. The readers are told to show off to their parents how much they learned about planets, using the quiz.
4. Original 3-line review: The colorful pictures and enlarged images of parts of our solar system help keep the reader interested in this book. I think it was extremely helpful to include the definitions of some key words throughout the book, in order to accommodate to the younger readers. I also think that the quiz at the end was a good addition, because it will help to find out how much information the reader really comprehended.
5. 2-3 possible in-class uses: This book can be read by the teacher to the class before handing out a printout of the quiz at the back of the book. It does not necessarily have to be graded, but can be discussed as a class in order to let the content really sink in. The book can also lead to a project for groups of students. They can choose a planet of interest for them and make a poster with some key facts about that planet.
2. Appropriate grade level(s): K-3
3. Original 3-line summary: This book explains our solar system and planets. The author describes their appearance and some key features. She focuses specifically on the Sun and Earth for some pages. At the end of the book, there is a quiz covering much of the information stated in the book. The readers are told to show off to their parents how much they learned about planets, using the quiz.
4. Original 3-line review: The colorful pictures and enlarged images of parts of our solar system help keep the reader interested in this book. I think it was extremely helpful to include the definitions of some key words throughout the book, in order to accommodate to the younger readers. I also think that the quiz at the end was a good addition, because it will help to find out how much information the reader really comprehended.
5. 2-3 possible in-class uses: This book can be read by the teacher to the class before handing out a printout of the quiz at the back of the book. It does not necessarily have to be graded, but can be discussed as a class in order to let the content really sink in. The book can also lead to a project for groups of students. They can choose a planet of interest for them and make a poster with some key facts about that planet.
December 3, 2019
1. This informational text offers everything one needs to know about the Planets. It includes information on the Sun, our solar system, dwarf planets and even the many moons throughout it all. The content is delivered through eye-popping illustrations and easily digestible facts, clues, interesting oddities and even knee-slapping jokes!
2. These series of National Geographic Kids books are so engaging for the reader. The photographs are stunning and the captions offer great information and facts about the topic being discussed. I love the fun and weird facts that are included on each of the planets and the jokes add an extra touch that make you forget you're learning and instead having fun while reading!
3. I would pair this book with other informational texts on planets to teach a science unit on the solar system. Other picture books that would be a great fit include "The Sun is Kind of a Big Deal" by Nick Seluk and "Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years" by Stacy McAnulty.
4. I would use this as a mentor text for writing using text features. I would ask my students to label their illustrations, add captions, a Table of Contents and even headings into a informational text book they are creating.
2. These series of National Geographic Kids books are so engaging for the reader. The photographs are stunning and the captions offer great information and facts about the topic being discussed. I love the fun and weird facts that are included on each of the planets and the jokes add an extra touch that make you forget you're learning and instead having fun while reading!
3. I would pair this book with other informational texts on planets to teach a science unit on the solar system. Other picture books that would be a great fit include "The Sun is Kind of a Big Deal" by Nick Seluk and "Earth! My First 4.54 Billion Years" by Stacy McAnulty.
4. I would use this as a mentor text for writing using text features. I would ask my students to label their illustrations, add captions, a Table of Contents and even headings into a informational text book they are creating.
October 1, 2021
A book that illustrates the solar system in an engaging and easy way! Children will learn about the different aspects in the solar system and how it all comes together!
Using the evaluation guide in Children's Literature, Briefly, we see that there are different aspects in evaluating informational texts. Some of the evaluation criteria covered is Compelling details, Fascinating comparisons, Unusual subjects or viewpoints, etc. This book does many things right, it has many engaging photos, fun facts for children, big titles, a table of contents. Many of these aspects is what makes this an informational text. In these type of texts you need to have many but not all of these elements in them. The more you have of these elements, the more credible the text is and easier to authenticate information.
Future Educators!
An activity or lesson you can do with your students is have them create the solar system using different objects around the classroom or items that they bring with them. Have them share it with the class and tell why they chose certain items for that part of the solar system.
Using the evaluation guide in Children's Literature, Briefly, we see that there are different aspects in evaluating informational texts. Some of the evaluation criteria covered is Compelling details, Fascinating comparisons, Unusual subjects or viewpoints, etc. This book does many things right, it has many engaging photos, fun facts for children, big titles, a table of contents. Many of these aspects is what makes this an informational text. In these type of texts you need to have many but not all of these elements in them. The more you have of these elements, the more credible the text is and easier to authenticate information.
Future Educators!
An activity or lesson you can do with your students is have them create the solar system using different objects around the classroom or items that they bring with them. Have them share it with the class and tell why they chose certain items for that part of the solar system.
Want to read
February 19, 2020If you like to learn about the solar system and our planets then this is a good book for beginners. The pictures inside the book are very colorful and educational. The solar system is very fun to learn about and to learn all about the planets. You can learn basic facts about the solar system. The pictures and fun to look at and learn about all the planets its not a very long book but it has some good facts to read about.
Its always fun when camping out to look up at the stars. It would be fun to go into space and fly on a rocket up into space. But you would be gone for a very long time and maybe get boring being in space for that long. I would probably miss my family a lot.
This book you can learn a lot and have lots of pictures to look at very bright and nice to look at.
Its always fun when camping out to look up at the stars. It would be fun to go into space and fly on a rocket up into space. But you would be gone for a very long time and maybe get boring being in space for that long. I would probably miss my family a lot.
This book you can learn a lot and have lots of pictures to look at very bright and nice to look at.
December 2, 2024
This book provides valuable insight into the planets of our solar system. I really enjoyed the images that were displayed throughout the book and the way that the information was structured. The vocabulary words are always explained well for students who may not have known their definitions prior to reading this book. There is a content standard for science that revolves around space/planets, so this may be a good book to read with the class. However, this also could simply be a book I would display in the classroom library when we are going through those lessons instead, and then leave it within the shelves of the library in case students want to refer back to it.
September 18, 2018
Genre: Informational
Grade: 3rd - 5th
Unique Feature: In this book there was a very fun feature where it had a small box on the page that says "Science Clue" and in this box there would be a feature or vocabulary word pertaining to the planets or the solar system and would define it. I thought this could be very helpful for the students who were not sure what some of the words meant or just wanted to know a fun fact.
Grade: 3rd - 5th
Unique Feature: In this book there was a very fun feature where it had a small box on the page that says "Science Clue" and in this box there would be a feature or vocabulary word pertaining to the planets or the solar system and would define it. I thought this could be very helpful for the students who were not sure what some of the words meant or just wanted to know a fun fact.
November 2, 2019
My preschool aged daughter wasn’t all that interested in reading this book and didn’t select it in her own. However, when I encouraged her to read it with me before we returned it to the library, she was interested and engaged. She loved the multiple choice quiz in the back (the first one of these she has ever done). She only missed one. I missed two. Am I embarrassed that my three year old beat me in a reading comprehension/memory test? Yes, a little bit ... but I’m also pretty proud.
November 9, 2022
This is a great informational book about planets and students can learn everything about the solar system, what it looks like, what it does, etc. I would have this in my classroom library for students who are interested in learning more about the solar system and planets. This book is full of interesting fun facts, great pictures, and great diagrams. I would also use this as a resource to teach students more about this topic and introduce it before a lesson.
June 22, 2018
Great teaching resource
My students Enjoyed. Good teaching supplement. Kept students engaged and asking more questions. Graphics were clear and brightly colored holding their intereet
My students Enjoyed. Good teaching supplement. Kept students engaged and asking more questions. Graphics were clear and brightly colored holding their intereet
September 3, 2018
Does fine as an intro to the solar system
One of the better National Geographic kids readers (which isn't saying a whole lot). It does not describe the planets individually but is more of an overview of the solar system. The graphics are OK but not great.
One of the better National Geographic kids readers (which isn't saying a whole lot). It does not describe the planets individually but is more of an overview of the solar system. The graphics are OK but not great.
September 23, 2018
This informational book shows and explains all of the planets in our solar system. This is a great book for all ages to learn more about the solar system. Students learn about telescopes, astronauts etc. I would use this book in group work and to learn more about science.
June 10, 2019
Plants
This book describes what planets are and what surrounds them. It shows the solar system in order. There are eight big planets and five small planets. It tells you what are the gas plantes are and what the dwarf plants are. It talks about the earth you live on and the moon.
This book describes what planets are and what surrounds them. It shows the solar system in order. There are eight big planets and five small planets. It tells you what are the gas plantes are and what the dwarf plants are. It talks about the earth you live on and the moon.
November 16, 2020
Published in 2012, Nonfiction. This book informs students about the solar system and the different planets in the solar. This includes fun pictures, jokes, discussion and guiding questions, and vocabulary and I think it would be nice to have a collection of the National Geographic books because they provide a fun way for students to learn about different things.
March 1, 2022
I've read this book about 4 times this past week with different students and I'm going to be reading it with some more. It was a great introduction to planets for our beginning reader friends, especially because it's some of their first introduction to space generally.
October 17, 2022
I really enjoyed reading this book. I learned a lot and I thought the pictures were really good. I would read this to maybe a young science class. This book is great for young children learning about the solar system
November 15, 2017
Great short read for kids to learn about planets on their own!
December 29, 2017
Love it I got a book a real book😇
January 17, 2018
Wow. Just wow.
January 20, 2018
Wonderful teaching at the appropriate level for learning about our planets and the solar system. Great visuals and descriptions. Highly recommend!
July 22, 2018
جميع كتب ناشينال جيوغرافيك ممتازة، ابحث عن المواضيع التي تهم طفلك
هذه سلسلة القراءة
National Geographic Readers
هذه سلسلة القراءة
National Geographic Readers
November 2, 2018
The illustrations were on both pages and used as the background. I liked learning about the planets.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews