Albert Hopper, Science Hero: Blasting Through the Solar System!

November 15, 2020
Junior Science Heroes Polly and Tad join Uncle Albert in a tour of the local astronomical pond. Fresh from exploring the Earth's inward reaches in the series opener (2020), the three intrepid frog explorers hop aboard a rocket headed for the acid clouds of Venus and Mercury's extremes of hot and cold. "From there," Albert proclaims with characteristic grandiloquence, "we blast our way to...the VERY SUN ITSELF!" "Won't we melt?" asks timorous Tad. "We'll find out in two more chapters." Spoiler alert: They don't melt (unlike their fuel stores of "frozen dihydrogen monoxide," i.e., water). In a rollicking tumble of narrow squeaks and basic science facts the voyage continues past planets and select moons all the way out to the Kuiper belt and back. Almost back, that is--thanks to an easily confused autopilot. (Tad: "Has the autopilot ever actually worked?" Albert: "Someday!" Ted: "I don't think you answered my question." Polly: "No, I think he did.") Their unscheduled landing on the moon leaves the trio marveling at the view of a "big, beautiful blue planet called Earth." The thick-lined cartoons on nearly every well-leaded page aren't much for fine detail, but they do reflect the tongue-in-cheek tone. By way of a recap Polly and Tad add, respectively, personal notes and drawings at the end. A ribbet-tickling roundabout for armchair astronauts and Magic School Bus grads. (Informational fantasy. 7-10)

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January 1, 2021

Gr 1-3-Professor Albert Hopper and the young junior science heroes, Polly and Tad, are back. This time, the amphibian hero of science is taking his niece and nephew on a trip through the solar system on his new, pigeon-shaped rocket ship. Although facts about space are presented throughout the book, the frogs' adventures also involve the fantastic, including breaks to build a clubhouse on Mars or have a picnic on a comet. Outside of short appearances by a sentient Pluto and a very confused autopilot system, the three frogs are the only characters, making it easy for young readers to follow their banter and travels from planet to planet. Comical black-and-white illustrations (with highlights of green) are on nearly every page, breaking up the text and further solidifying the preposterousness of the frog's escapades. Polly's notes at the end of the story summarize what the characters have learned along the way, but those who are interested in the solar system will need additional resources. VERDICT An early chapter book suitable for young readers seeking comical science fiction.-Amanda Melilli, Univ. of Nevada, Las Vegas

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