Going Around the Sun

June 1, 2008
Gr 1-3-Modeled on "Over in the Meadow," as were her "Over in the Ocean" (2004) and "Over in the Jungle" (2007, both Dawn), Berkes's rhymed tour of the solar system is framed as a dialogue between Mother Sun and her satellites. The verses introduce very basic concepts along with each planet: "'Tilt, ' said the Mother /'I tilt, ' said Three./So it tilted on its axis/And the seasons came to be." Pluto and its fellow dwarf planets, along with some of the solar system's smaller residents, also rate mention. The information is accurate, if not always well phrased ("Saturn really 'blows']") and is backed up at the end with two full spreads of additional planetary facts, plus further resources and pages of suggested classroom activities. Mason's big, spattered, swirling starscapes were created with melted crayon and add loads of visual appeal to this astronomical primer."John Peters, New York Public Library"

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