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
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