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Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings
Blast off with Douglas Florian's new high-flying compendium, which features twenty whimsical poems about space. From the moon to the stars, from the Earth to Mars, here is an exuberant celebrationof our celestial surroundings that's certain to become a universalfavorite among aspiring astronomers everywhere. Includes die-cut pages and a glossary of space terms....more
Hardcover, 56 pages
Published
April 1st 2007
by Harcourt Children's Books
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Nov 04, 2010
Brenda
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
introducing kids to astronomy and non-fiction poetry
Recommended to Brenda by:
Picture Book Club November Selection
Shelves:
picture-books
What really stands out in this book of poems is the clever illustrations and cut outs that show glimpses of the next page. The vibrant colors and shapes really add so much to the wonderfully written poems. Each poem touches on the subject of the planets, comets or the universe in a very easy flow that will appeal to younger children. My overall favorite is “A Galaxy” which twirls into a spiral. Included with the book is a “Galactic Glossary” and “Bibliography and Links to Further Reading.”
This is a book filled with poems. Each poem is about a different planet, along with the galaxy, universe, comets, constellations, black holes and the great beyond. Each poem has information in it about what it is talking about. For instance the poem about Earth talks about how much water and land covers the Earth, how life is on Earth. Each planet has a different style of poems. Pluto was a lyrical poem; it seemed to have a rhythm that went along with the poem. I think this is a great book to re...more
Grade Level: K-2
Main Characters: N/A
Setting: Outer Space
POV:
Summary:
This is a fun, informational, and witty book of poems about astrology. Topics of each poem include the planets, starts, black holes, galaxies, and everything else you can find in outer space. Each topic has a double-page spread, and the artwork is incredible! Florian paintings are surreal and he uses a collage style, with some pages containing cut-out holes giving a preview to the next page. The poems incorporate facts about e...more
Main Characters: N/A
Setting: Outer Space
POV:
Summary:
This is a fun, informational, and witty book of poems about astrology. Topics of each poem include the planets, starts, black holes, galaxies, and everything else you can find in outer space. Each topic has a double-page spread, and the artwork is incredible! Florian paintings are surreal and he uses a collage style, with some pages containing cut-out holes giving a preview to the next page. The poems incorporate facts about e...more
I love the way the poem conveys information about space in poetic form with terrific illustrations to augment the experience. Illustrations have a great use of color, collage & cut out. The text is also used creatively and the word choice conveys the essence of the poem. "A Galaxy" poem is written is a spiral (use of form), reflecting the structure of some galaxies. In "The Universe" the word "empty" is stretched out in ways makes you read the word in ways to get a sense of the expanse both...more
This week I read the book Comets, Stars, the Moon and Mars. This is a Poetry collection of themed poems all relating to space. Nearly all the poems in this collection are rhyming poems. They carry a musical quality that is not only fun to read, but informational. Here is an example from Comets, Stars, the Moon and Mars a poem called “the sun”: ”Ninety-three million miles from Earth. Nearly a million miles in girth.” There are also many examples of alliteration in the book, for example: “Jupiter’...more
Douglas Florian features twenty whimsical poems about space. From the moon to the stars, from the Earth to Mars, here is a celebration of our celestial surroundings that's certain to become a universal favorite among aspiring astronomers everywhere. (Goodreads Summary)
Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian is a 2007 poetry book about space & the planets which should be very accessible to children. The poetry is short and fun to read. Two of my favorit...more
Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian is a 2007 poetry book about space & the planets which should be very accessible to children. The poetry is short and fun to read. Two of my favorit...more
Comets, Stars, the Moon and Mars is a book comprised of several poems and paintings about space. The table of contents allows the reader to peruse the poems of their choice based on the aspect of space in which they are interested. Each page has a circle cut-out, to represent the corresponding planet detailed in the poem. The cut-outs are cleverly placed in different areas of each page to keep any reader engaged and eager to learn about space. To appreciate the artwork in this book, one must all...more
PLOT SUMMARY
In COMETS, STARS, THE MOON AND MARS, Douglas Florian presents twenty playful poems about astronomy and the many wonders of our universe. Various heavenly bodies are described, including the stars and constellations, the sun and moon, the planets, and other outer space marvels. Each poem is also accompanied by an illustration of mixed media (e.g., paint, collage, stamped lettering) created by Florian, many of which also include die cuts on the pages. At the end of the collection is a...more
In COMETS, STARS, THE MOON AND MARS, Douglas Florian presents twenty playful poems about astronomy and the many wonders of our universe. Various heavenly bodies are described, including the stars and constellations, the sun and moon, the planets, and other outer space marvels. Each poem is also accompanied by an illustration of mixed media (e.g., paint, collage, stamped lettering) created by Florian, many of which also include die cuts on the pages. At the end of the collection is a...more
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. A concrete poem entitled "a galaxy" is a curling spiral of words set against the midnight-blue sky and surrounded by other galaxies. Stamped type, cutout pages, collage elements with printed papers, and sweeping...more
Jun 17, 2010
Lisa Vegan
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
introducing kids to astronomy and non-fiction poetry
Recommended to Lisa by:
Chandra
This book provides a fun frolic of a tour through the universe. It’s a superb introduction to the science of astronomy and to non-fiction poetry too.
The poems are very simple, and will be appealing to young children. They’re not outstanding but they’re pleasant and informative, and I loved how the “a galaxy” poem was formed in a spiral. Very cool. (The poems also put me in the mood to listen to Holst’s The Planets, and thinking of that music did distract me slightly from the book’s poems.)
The il...more
The poems are very simple, and will be appealing to young children. They’re not outstanding but they’re pleasant and informative, and I loved how the “a galaxy” poem was formed in a spiral. Very cool. (The poems also put me in the mood to listen to Holst’s The Planets, and thinking of that music did distract me slightly from the book’s poems.)
The il...more
A collection of poems about all things related to space. The illustrations were really creative and unusual...my favorite part! The poems were a little "forced" but an interesting way to introduce astronomy to children! If you have a child interested in planets, black holes, comets, etc., this would be a really fun read! It is also a great way to help children remember facts about the planets, sun, moon, etc.
Genre: Poetry
Summary: This book is a beautifully illustrated collection of rhyming poems in several different styles. He has shape poems, rhyming couplets, triplets and several others.
Critique
A. Fluency and rhyming
B.This book is all about the universe and space and even has a glossary in the back to define the key terms. I is fun and informative and the rhythmic nature of rhyming poetry is usually good for fluency because it has a natural flow.
C. the universe
The universe is every place,
Includi...more
Summary: This book is a beautifully illustrated collection of rhyming poems in several different styles. He has shape poems, rhyming couplets, triplets and several others.
Critique
A. Fluency and rhyming
B.This book is all about the universe and space and even has a glossary in the back to define the key terms. I is fun and informative and the rhythmic nature of rhyming poetry is usually good for fluency because it has a natural flow.
C. the universe
The universe is every place,
Includi...more
I liked this book. (A Picture Book Club Read http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/4...) I have to admit it has been awhile since I read anything about outer space. I enjoyed the illustrations and the cutouts more than the actual poems. I read this book out loud to my daughter and it didn’t flow well in a couple spots. My daughter is too young to appreciate the book to its fullest. She did enjoy the curious cutouts which she poked her finger through on occasion. She also liked the rhyming aspect o...more
Title: Comets, Stars, and Moon, and Mars
Author: Douglas Florian
Recommended Ages or grades: 6 - 10
This book of poems is all about the different planets. Each poem talks about a planet, the moon, stars, Mars, Pluto, Saturn, Venus, the Black Hole, Uranus, and others. The poems are short and simple to read for children in the early primary grades and they are cute poems, “Speedy, nimble, quick, and fast, Round the sun it rushes past. Always racing, on the run… You’d run, too, so near the sun.” I hig...more
Author: Douglas Florian
Recommended Ages or grades: 6 - 10
This book of poems is all about the different planets. Each poem talks about a planet, the moon, stars, Mars, Pluto, Saturn, Venus, the Black Hole, Uranus, and others. The poems are short and simple to read for children in the early primary grades and they are cute poems, “Speedy, nimble, quick, and fast, Round the sun it rushes past. Always racing, on the run… You’d run, too, so near the sun.” I hig...more
This book of poetry deals with many of the things that are found in space, like the planets, comets and the sun.
When reading this book, I really wished that it was something that I would’ve had when learning about space, especially with things like the moon. It would be a great tool to help students learn about the different aspects of space, and it would also help gain student’s interests. The art work is in the book is amazing in the fact that it isn’t like the typical art work found in books...more
When reading this book, I really wished that it was something that I would’ve had when learning about space, especially with things like the moon. It would be a great tool to help students learn about the different aspects of space, and it would also help gain student’s interests. The art work is in the book is amazing in the fact that it isn’t like the typical art work found in books...more
This book presents poems about the universe, astronomy, and our solar system. The poems are short, concentrated, current, informative, and humorous. Specific terms are blended with made-up vocabulary. Many of the poems are filled with rhyme. Prose appears in a spiral for “a galaxy.” The illustrations are made with gouache, collage, and rubber stamps on printed brown paper bags. Several of the rubber stamps are foreign translations for the planet or star premiering in the poem. The illustrations...more
I found another book by Douglas Florian! This book could be a fun supplement to a science unit on the solar system. There is a poem about each planet as well as other things you would find in space. I think this book could provide for some great literature/science integration activities. The poems are short and sweet which I think young readers enjoy. In true Douglas Florian style, the paintings are gorgeous. This book could even be an inspiration for an art/science integration project. I would...more
This picture book written in poetic form would be perfect for introducing a science unit on the solar system. I would use this book for a wide range of elementary age students. There is great factual information and vocabulary used in the poems. The pictures are great stylized representations of the plants.
My favorite part of this was the section on Pluto. First I was struck by the up-to-date information, then I laughed at how it was actually presented.
“Pluto was a planet.
But now it doesn’t pa...more
My favorite part of this was the section on Pluto. First I was struck by the up-to-date information, then I laughed at how it was actually presented.
“Pluto was a planet.
But now it doesn’t pa...more
Comets, Stars, the Moon and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings is a favorite in my classroom! Douglas Florian's informational poetry informs the reader about space in a fun, creative way! I love the use of similes and metaphors he utilizes when describing the different planets. His rhymes are creative and not forced, and his wonderful word choice helps create images in the reader's mind!
The illustrations were done with gouache, collage, and rubner stamps on primed brown paper bags. They are authent...more
The illustrations were done with gouache, collage, and rubner stamps on primed brown paper bags. They are authent...more
This is a book filled with poems. Each poem is about a different part of space, and is very informational. For instance, the poem about Earth talks about how much water and land covers the Earth, how life is on Earth. Each planet has a different style of poems. Pluto was a lyrical poem; it seemed to have a rhythm that went along with the poem. I think this is a great book to read aloud to the class. It is not your traditional book with facts; the poems make it a fun way to learn. The illustratio...more
Nov 02, 2010
Kathryn
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Kathryn by:
Chandra
Shelves:
childrens-picture-books,
science
The illustrations are really fun and inventive--I loved how there were little cut-out illustrations of the various gods with the planets they are named after, etc. I liked some of the poems better than others, but overall I thought they worked well and had a nice blend of wonderment, science and fun. And the scientific note at the back seemed good to me, though I don't really know enough about astronomy to be a solid judge on that issue. Overall, I think this is a fun and worthwhile introduction...more
Douglas Florian has created a beautiful poetry collection about space. The poems are perfect for early elementary students first learning about the solar system. The vocabulary and idea for each poem are fairly simple, and the poems are short. I also loved the artwork. With fun colors, cutouts for every page, and quirky labels, kids will enjoy pouring over this collection.
Recommended for grades 1 - 3. This is a great poetry book to include as part of a selection of fiction and nonfiction space b...more
Recommended for grades 1 - 3. This is a great poetry book to include as part of a selection of fiction and nonfiction space b...more
This is a children's book, with space poems and modern paintings by Douglas Florian. It is a great science book, ad funny.
One Poem:
Venus
Scalding-hot surface,
Nine hundred degrees.
Nothing can live there,
No creatures,
No trees.
Poisonous clouds
Of acid above.
Why was it named for
the goddess of love?
At the end of the book Is a wonderful galactic glossary that explains the terms related to each poem, which really helps with the science. I think this book would be great for ages 3-9.
One Poem:
Venus
Scalding-hot surface,
Nine hundred degrees.
Nothing can live there,
No creatures,
No trees.
Poisonous clouds
Of acid above.
Why was it named for
the goddess of love?
At the end of the book Is a wonderful galactic glossary that explains the terms related to each poem, which really helps with the science. I think this book would be great for ages 3-9.
This book is great because the pictures are awesome, with cut-outs to make it even more interesting, and the poems for the most part are entertaining. Not only are most of the poems good, rhyming without being corny, each one gives accurate facts about its subject. The one on Pluto is hilarious especially since it takes into account Pluto's demotion. I think I could stare at the pictures for hours. The style isn't quite like anything else I've ever seen and they do an excellent job of complement...more
Weird. Bad science, lame verses, fun but not special artwork. The author profile says he stargazes in New York City? Um, not so much. I wanted to like it - there are probably lots of wonderful poems about outer space, and not all art about space has to pay homage to Chesley Bonestell, but I just don't find this book worthwhile.
These poems about our solar system are short and done in several different styles, including one shape poem about the galaxy. There are individual poems about each planet as well as ones about other space topics. The poem about Pluto is up-to-date and funny! All the poems include factual information, too. I loved the illutrations that include some peek-a-boo pages with holes to see part of the picture behind it.
Florian’s illustrations, with the peekaboo cutouts on alternating pages, really enhanced the words. I think my favorite illustration was the galaxy, with the words of the poem itself in the shape of the Milky Way. My favorite poem from this book has to be Pluto. I knew Pluto had been demoted from its planet status, and now, I know why, at least in a poetic way.
Florian does a commendable job of both writing beautiful poetry and communicating interesting details about the universe. The illustrations are original and colorful. Preschool through upper elementary kids would find this book approachable and appealing. This would be a great read aloud book.
Poetry; Picture book; 2007; Horn Book Fanfare Award
Poetry; Picture book; 2007; Horn Book Fanfare Award
This book of poems is all about space! Nearly all the poems in this collection are rhyming poems. They carry a musical quality that is not only fun to read, but informational. Students love learning about space.
I would use this book to connect a Space unit to language arts. Students could write their own poems about space.
I would use this book to connect a Space unit to language arts. Students could write their own poems about space.
Poetry that is out of this world! Doug Florian (one of my favorite poets for children) has a great book out with poems for every object in outer space--from the moon to black holes. I especially liked the poem about Pluto getting fired. The art work is terrific too. Kids who like space have another great book to read.
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Nov 11, 2010 11:35pm