Solar System for Kids: A Junior Scientist's Guide to Planets, Dwarf Planets, and Everything Circling Our Sun

by Hilary Statum

Take kids ages 6 to 8 on a guided tour of the galaxy―blast off with the Junior Scientists series

Space is limitless―just like your imagination! Get ready to take an amazing journey to the stars. Solar System for Kids is filled with fascinating facts, photographs, and illustrations that’ll excite your mind and charge your curiosity. Of all the solar system books for kids 6-8, this one teaches you about the birth of the universe and how scientists believe galaxies, stars, and planets came into being. Explore the Sun, planets, dwarf planets, moons, and the asteroid belt in one of the most engaging solar system books for kids.

This standout among solar system books for kids offers tips for spotting constellations, planets, comets, and more―from your backyard. From navigating the night sky to learning about objects billions of miles away, this book answers curious kids’ big questions about the universe. Strap in, Junior Scientist. 3, 2, 1... blast off!

This top choice among solar system books for kids

Universally easy―Explore the whole universe with in-depth and easy-to-follow information in one of the most comprehensive solar system books for kids.Deep space knowledge―From dark matter and black holes to eclipses and moon landings, this book explores every aspect curious kids want to know.Bonus material―Discover even more fun information by using the extensive glossary, sidebars, and in-book activities.If you’ve been searching for solar system books for kids, look no further―this one has you covered.

Genres: Childrens, Stem, Science, Space, Nonfiction

119 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 12, 2020

Reviews

[Cover Lover Book Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up in the 60s and 70s, my brother and I were obsessed with anything to do with space and our solar system. We witnessed a lot in those days, first hand, and it fed our curiosity.

This book helps young readers learn about space, journeying to the stars, planets, and galaxies via fun facts and illustrations.

Who knows? Perhaps a reader will be inspired to become a junior scientist, to explore the universe in a new and exciting way.

Although this book is marketed for kids 6-8 years old, I believe it can be enjoyed by kids of almost any age.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just getting a chance to read through this book gives me a bit of a chance to pause and think with amazement about all the changes that has occurred since when I was younger and reading about this stuff. Normally a child's book about space and the universe in my time would be just a few pages or up to maybe twenty while only covering the basics but this is a beautiful example of progress twisted as it may be.

And this book did a great job on presentation. Instead of being like many other books about the universe and including gorgeous pictures they relied on more simple illustrations for the most part. The colors were muted and a bit on the darker side but they were still gorgeous while fitting the book. And occasionally there were small buttons that had actual photos for the reader who may be wanting to see the actual body in question.

The writing still needs a bit editing and it just makes me shake my head for I am still trying to figure out how 243 Venusian days is longer than an entire Earth year of 365 days. It is especially a bit concerning since the stats for both is sandwiching the wrong paragraph to begin with so such a mistake is a bit on the glaring side.

The writing itself is interactive for it encourages the reader to act like they are using the book as a guide while they travel the universe. As such it is written to be an educational book with young readers focus' in mind thus there are additional information boxes with further information and fun experiments to further expand the reader's understanding of what is being discussed.

For those who are Pluto supporters this book does put the planet into the dwarf category thus only claiming eight planets but at the same time I find the tone for Pluto to be walking the line. There are times when Hilary acts like the newer science corner and demotes the planet even though the definition for a dwarf planet is very weak in its presentation, especially when compared with circumstantial evidence provided by the same book. At other times, though, the author seems to be a fan of Pluto as a planetary body for it is one with the most pages as it is being explored individually, is included on an orbiting planetary model without the other dwarf planets and is used as a milestone for a lot of other facts as well.

All in all with the exception of the Venusian day snafu it was a pretty decent book and one that would make for a good addition to any science library whether public or private.

**Please note I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review**

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book would be a great addition to any budding astronomer or space enthusiast. I'm a big fan of children's books on complex concepts and this one doesn't disappoint.

[Conny Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Are you ready to begin your adventure? It’s time to leave Earth behind,” Hilary Statum writes in the introduction to her book, Solar System for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Planets, Dwarf Planets, and Everything Circling Our Sun.

~ What ~
This one-hundred-and-six-page paperback targets children ages six to eight years old who enjoy educational books, especially if they involve the solar system. With no profanity or too scary scenes, there are multiple colorful photographs and illustrations. The Mystery Continues, a 13-word glossary, resources, index, and author’s biography complete the book.

After a contents page, there are six chapters for junior scientists to learn about space. Beginning with a discussion about our universe, the following sections cover our solar system, terrestrial planets and the asteroid belt, gas and ice giants, the Kuiper Belt and dwarf plants, and exploration.

~ Why ~
Our six-year-old granddaughter loves educational books about space, and this one is packed full of information, illustrations, and descriptions. I appreciate the sixteen two-page inserts on the sun, moon, and planets that have charts on the left side of the opened pages on mass, diameter, distance from earth, average temperature, and more while the right sides often offer a deeper look. Highlighting words that are in the glossary are helpful.

~ Why Not ~
Some may find there is limited information on the topic in this book, but it is for junior scientists in the third to fourth grade. Beginner readers may be frustrated with the two- and three-syllable words.

~ Wish ~
As a Christian who believes in creationism, I do not like books that promote the Big Bang Theory happening billions of years ago (however, God did create the universe with one enormous, instantaneous bang!).

~ Want ~
If your child is fascinated by outer space and its celestial bodies, this read would make a great resource for a book report or to learn intersting facts about our solar system.

Thanks to Callisto Publisher’s Club and the author for this complimentary that I am under no obligation to review.

[Renee Knoblauch · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off let me say that this book supports the Big Bang Theory. If you can get past the Big Bang Theory or if like me I use it as a teaching opportunity for my kids with Creation. Honestly it doesn’t preach it but states it a few times. I think there is a wealth of interesting information throughout the book if you take a moment to overlook and use the information as a teaching resource. It's minuet and has a wealth of information. If you are a Big Bang Theory person then this will be a great book for you.

My kids loved space when they were younger and I thought this book had more information than most kids books I’ve seen out there. I found it extremely interesting going over the different types of galaxies in our universe. It covers some important people in space history. It goes over our Solar System explaining what stars are, life cycles of stars, eclipses, and a lot of information on the planets. Not only that but it has information on the Kuiper Belt, Dwarf planets, and so much more.

The illustrations are pretty amazing. Even though I have teenagers they read and enjoyed this book a lot.

I received a copy of this product in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.

[Virginia Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

During the 1960's, when the space program was still bright and shiny, I was a child who was captivated with stars, planets, the sun, the moon, and anything to do with outer space. "Solar System for Kids: A Junior Explorer's Guide to Planets, Dwarf Planets, and Everything Circling Our Sun" is written for children, but it is also enjoyable for older readers. Author Hilary Statum, a kindergarten teacher, speaker, and blogger, guides "explorers" through a galaxy of fascinating facts, interplanetary insights, awesome astronomy, and so much more. Chapters include "Our Universe", "Our Planet", "Terrestrial Planets and the Asteroid Belt", "Gas Giants and Ice Giants", The Kuiper Belt and Dwarf Planets", and "Exploring Space". You will also find "Important People in Space History". "A Deeper Look", "Explore More", and "The Mystery Continues". The helpful glossary explains such terms as : "asteroid", "black hole", "dwarf planet", "light-year", "solar eclipse", and more. I am a lifetime stargazer, and I really enjoyed the section on constellations (illustrations and text).

Book Copy Gratis Callisto Publishers

[Literature Lattes · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Solar System for Kids" is a great non-fiction children's book about the wonders of space. This excellent resource covers different types of galaxies and the planets, moons and stars that make up our solar system. The book is aimed for older children and would make an excellent reference guide for projects and class assignments or for a kid with a large interest in space.

I really enjoyed that each of the planets from our solar system had their own facts sheet that prefaced the information about them. These facts at a glance included the planet's diameter, length of a day, distance from earth and more. These made this guide really fabulous because readers can pick it up for a quick fact or decide to sit down and really dig into the specifics for each topic.

Even as an adult, I didn't know most of this information! As a result of this, I think this book would be a great addition to any classroom or home library for those people interested in exploring the final frontier.

[Tom Law · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unless you live in a bunker, you (and your children) have marveled at the wonder of the night sky. The author says, "The book you hold in your hands will be your guide as your learn some of the secrets of our own solar system and beyond." And she has done what she set out to do.

This is a great book for the beginner astronomer and scientist. The information is well presented in a clear and systematic way. A few tangential rabbit trails (or as she calls them, "A Deeper Look") are chased but they add to the material and make it so much more interesting.

This is a great primer and starting point. It even is a book which your "junior scientist" will use to refer back to as they grow in their understanding of the solar system and our place in the universe. The pictures are clear and the art work adds to the understanding of the material.

Upon request, the publisher, with no preset conditions, sent me a copy of the book to review.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book shares a variety of interesting facts and details about the solar system. The photographic illustrations are nice, and the book includes some interesting sidebars without disrupting the flow of the main text. There are also instructions for different activities kids can do. The book also provides plenty of information and context about Pluto's demotion to a Dwarf Planet, and shares insight into the decision-making process that happened with this.

This book will appeal to kids who are interested in outer space, and it's a good educational resource. Some parents will also enjoy reading this with their kids, and they'll have the opportunity to learn about some new discoveries and changes since they were learning about space in school.

I received a free copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine in exchange for an honest review.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book with my niece who is in the 4th grade. We both loved it. I thought it went into just the right amount of detail and introduced so many new terms! It almost felt like an informal textbook layout but definitely held us captive with fun learning. I’m not sure the goal age for this book but sentence structure seemed about 4th grade but science always bumps it up. I think it’s one of those books that you could start a little young and revisit with growth. This science professor is happy!

[Andrex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pushing the Big Bang Theory as fact the author states, "Before the Big Bang, the universe was tinier than the point of a needle. Within one second, the universe exploded very quickly....." and so it goes on. If you believe in the Big Bang Theory this book is for you. If you don't, then don't waste your money!

Apart from the above I was not impressed with the illustrations at all!

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. Thanks, Liz

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

VERDICT: Wonderful book on the basics of astronomy. A great tool to refresh your knowledge and learn with your children.

my full review is here: https://wordsandpeace.com/2020/05/22/...

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book for kids and tweens to learn all about our solar system. I particularly loved the graphics, photos, and fact columns about the planets. Very well-done, and highly recommended. Thanks, Callisto, for the review copy!

[Aubree · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book about space for both kids and adults. I read it aloud with my 1st grader and we both enjoyed while learning a lot. It was entertaining without being too juvenile or silly and provided a lot for us to talk about!