Sunday, September 22, 2013

Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars













kidscorner.org

Florian, Douglas. 2007. Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars. Orlando: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 9780152053727

This compilation of twenty poems has a topical connection to things found in space. The individual poems each focus on something different, such as the sky, the solar system, Saturn, Jupiter, and minor planets. Each spread features a poem and an illustration of the poem topic. The illustrations are gouache, collage, and rubber stamps. 

Most of the poems are simplistic and quick. The rhyme of each poem is found at the end of each line.The imagery in each poem creates a vivid image of each line. "Nothing's as black as a black hole. (Not black ink or lumps of coal)", a line from "The Black Hole", helps create the image of a very, very dark place.  The unique illustrations were created by using primed brown paper bags. The illustrations help make this book of poems more appealing to both children and adults. 

Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars was a 2009 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee. It was also nominated for several other awards including: Young Hoosier Book Award 2010, Keystone to Reading Book Award 2008-2009, and Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award 2009


If you enjoy this book of poetry by Douglas Florian, you may also enjoy: Laugh-eteria, Beast Feast, Insectlopedia, In the Swim, and On the Wing.

School Library Journal (07/01/2007):
Gr 1-5 “The pleasing blend of faded shades and brilliant colors, of old-fashioned prints and fanciful sketches, makes the illustrations seem both antique and high-tech. An appended "Galactic Glossary" provides additional information. In both language and artwork, Florian strikes the perfect balance between grandeur and whimsy. “


Booklist (04/01/2007):
“This large-format book looks at astronomy through the magnifying, clarifying lens of poetry. Each broad double-page spread features a short, accessible poem about a subject such as the sun, each of its planets, a comet, a constellation, or the universe, set within an impressive painting.”

Further activities for Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars can be found at:

http://www.the-best-childrens-books.org/Comets-Stars-the-Moon-and-Mars-ideas.html

A poetry kit from Harcourt, Inc is also available:
http://www.harcourtbooks.com/Comets/default.asp

No comments:

Post a Comment