Books

Earth By Eye Wonder  This book begins by discussing earth’s position in the solar system and what it looks like from outer space. It then goes on to describe the different land forms, water bodies, and how earth moves. This book discusses how unique planet earth is in that it is the only planet that is home to living things and the only one with water. The actual photographs in the book make it a great tool to use in any classroom and a great addition to a unit on the solar system.

Reaching for the Moon: The Apollo Astronauts

By: Hal Marcovitz

 This book tells of the astronauts in the famous Apollo missions. It begins by describing the fatal Apollo 1 mission and then discusses the famous ‘space race’ between the United States and Russia. The main topic of the book is the Apollo 11 mission and the astronauts that landed on the moon. The book provides some of the actual dialogue had by the astronauts and mission control, and the book has authentic pictures from the mission. At the end of the book, a chronology is provided telling important years in space exploration, and there is also a glossary of important and possibly unfamiliar terms for students.

Shannon Lucid, Space Ambassador

By: Carmen Bredeson

This book chronicles the life of astronaut, Shannon Lucid, from her childhood in Oklahoma through her various space shuttle missions to her six months aboard the Mir space station. The book discusses how as a child Shannon Lucid dreamed of being an explorer and space exploration was brand new when she graduated high school, and it quickly became a part of her ambitions. The book has real pictures of Shannon as a child and through her adult life and pictures of her in outer space. It also features a timeline of important dates in her life and has information on other books written about astronauts. This book would be a great addition to any text set on the solar system as it depicts what space exploration is truly like.

The Moon Exposed

By: Allison Lassieur

The //Moon Exposed// explains different properties of the moon. The book is categorized into 10 sections: old myths about the moon, what the moon is, how the moon moves, why the moon stays near the earth, the relationship between the moon and earth and tides, what is on the moon, seas on the moon, weather on the moon, light on the moon, phases, why the moon disappears, walking on the moon, and moon tourists. The author provides diagrams and descriptive illustrations. The author provides pertinent vocabulary and common myths that are relevant to each section. This book has great information about the moon and is appropriate for elementary aged students.

The Reasons for Seasons

By: Gail Gibbons

 This book provides detailed information about how the seasons are caused by the tilt of the earth. The story begins by discussing how the earth rotates as well as revolves around the sun and each season is determined by the position of the hemisphere in relation to the sun. The book is divided into the four seasons, and with each season, the book has illustrations of how the earth is tilted. //The Reasons for Seasons// has a great deal of useful vocabulary such as hemisphere, equinox, tilt, equator, and axis. This book is a great tool to use in a classroom during a solar system unit to teach that different aspects of our planet are indeed the cause of seasons.