The Planets

October 1, 1993
K-Gr 2-Gibbons uses brief declarative sentences to describe the sun and each planet of the solar system in succession, introducing concepts such as a day, a year, orbit, and rotation. Her paintings sometimes tread the edge of oversimplicity; in a demonstration of day and night, there is almost no contrast between the planet's light and dark sides, and though she mentions in the text that Pluto is currently closer to the sun than Neptune, their orbits do not cross in the illustrations. Still, the bright colors, simplified shapes, and spacious, uncomplicated page design make this an inviting gateway to the subject. The book closes with an introduction to astronomy, creating a natural transition to the author's Stargazers (Holiday, 1992).-John Peters, New York Public Library

December 15, 1993
Ages 5-8. Similar in format to her other books, this is Gibbons' introduction to the planets. Well designed and laid out, the pages feature appealing full-color illustrations of stargazers, astronomers, the solar system, and individual planets. Less satisfying is the accompanying text, which lacks focus and clarity. Still, given the popularity of Gibbons' work with teachers and kids and the growing demand for beginning books on astronomy, many libraries will find this a useful purchase. ((Reviewed Dec. 15, 1993))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 1993, American Library Association.)