Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Douglas Florian

Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars

Author/Illustrator: Douglas Florian
Publisher: Harcourt
Publication Year: 2007
Brief Summary: A collection of space-inspired poems in a variety of formats — concrete, rhyming, free verse, etc.
Awards, Honors and Prizes:

• Mind the Gap Award, 2008′ ” ‘ Best summation of the Pluto problem’ ‘ United States’ ” 
• Best Children’s Books of the Year, 2008 ; Bank Street College of Education ; Outstanding Merit
• Children’s Catalog, Nineteenth Edition, Supplement, 2007 ; H.W. Wilson
• Horn Book Fanfare, 2007 ; Horn Book
• Kids Reading List, 2008 ; Oprah/ALSC ; New Releases
• Kirkus Best Children’s Books, 2007 ; Kirkus
• Kirkus Book Review Stars, March 15, 2007

Ideas for using this book in classroom or library and/or brief notes on curriculum connections/content learning standards/Common Core, etc.:

•  Science: space unit; pair with informational books about the galaxy, planets, etc.  Have students each select one subject or concept, and conduct further research.
• Discuss different genres — poetry vs. informational — and their uses.  Which would you use to read for fun?  Which would you use if you were doing a research paper on a particular planet?
• If possible, arrange for a field trip to a planetarium or space museum, or watch a documentary/film about the planets.
• Have a discussion about planets — what characteristics must something have in order to be considered a planet?  Why did Pluto lose its status?  Do you think it’s a planet — why or why not?  Hold a mock debate based on the evidence.
• Art — make a model of our galaxy, or make a paper-mache planet (student’s choice)

Special features included (if applicable) — index; timeline; author’s notes; further reading; etc.  A “galactic glossary” and selected bibliography/further reading suggestions in the back of the book

Accessed at: Thrasher Elementary Library

Advertisements