BIBLIOGRAPHY
Jenkins, Alvin. Ill. Jenkins, Steve. 2004. Next Stop, Neptune:Experiencing the Solar System. New York, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0161841603
PLOT SUMMARY
Known for his paper collages, Jenkins takes the reader through the entire solar system in an almost IMAX like fashion. Authored by his physicist father, facts scattering the vast expanse of the solar system are scattered throughout the book. He begins with an overview detailing planets and moons, and continues through with space travel and ideas about life on other planets.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Jenkins’s collage illustrations do a wonderful job of giving the reader an idea of the relative size of the planets and how far they are away from the sun. Colorful torn and cut papers create beautiful pictures of the planets and solar system. There is a bibliography that contains other reference materials related to space exploration, but in spite of this there are still errors in the accuracy of the information given in this book. An incorrectly placed volcano, a missing asteroid belt, and a Pluto included in the wrong orbit just to name a few. All in all, it is a visually appealing and fun book for children, but shouldn’t necessarily be used as reliable reference material.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Steve Jenkins's paper collages distinguish this solar system journey. The text discusses the size of the bodies within the solar system and the distance each lies from Earth, then takes readers from the sun outward to the nine planets, visiting the asteroids between Mars and Jupiter, various moons, and the comets. Information about space travel and life in space completes the book. -The Horn Book, Inc., 2003
CONNECTIONS
Dana Meachen Rau's Solar System (Compass Point, 2000), Gail Gibbons's The Planets (Holiday, 1993) would make great, more factual companions for students wanting to learn more about the solar system.
An extension activity could include the creation of classbook depicting a journey through space and student created collages.
No comments:
Post a Comment