Planet Earth

by Mike Goldsmith, Nicki Palin (Illustrator)

In Flip The Planet Earth by Dr Mike Goldsmith, illustrated by Nicki Palin, children zoom up through protective layers of the atmosphere from the surface to outer space, following the Earth as it makes its yearly journey around the Sun. Young explorers lift the flaps to reveal answers about everything from the inner workings of our planet and why volcanoes erupt to finding animals in the forests and in the sea. Plus, a fun spot-the-difference game suddenly appears as the artwork amazingly changes.

Genres: Science

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Dr. Mike Goldsmith studied the philosophy of time and space at Keele University, where he also obtained his PhD in astrophysics. He was formerly the head of Acoustics at the UK's National Physical Laboratory and is now an author of nonfiction books for children.

Reviews

[Steve Holden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very easy, engaging science book for young learners. Students enjoy the illustrations and diagrams. The text is approachable, and that can be a reward for an interested, but diverse group of learners. This book only offers an introduction to the topics, so students must have other sources available to further their knowledge.

[Sarah Oyerinde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flip the Flaps: Planet Earth, is a beautifully and brightly illustrated book that highlights different features of Earth including location of Earth, air, life on Earth, the oceans, inside Earth, volcanoes, and earthquakes. The information on each feature is basic and simply presented, making it easy for children to understand. The book also encourages children to ask questions by presenting questions and answers on the front and back of the flap.

I think this book is great for presenting scientific information to young children. One thing I would change about it would be to present some of the more vague/doubtful "facts", such as information on the core of the earth, with doubtful language. Words like "might" and "maybe" and "speculate" would add to the spirit of scientific inquiry.

[Kimberly Ehrlich · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the 6-7 year old, Flip the Flaps is a perfect series for uncovering informative information. At a younger age facing the idea of the world and all its details feels a little daunting and without context. The Flip the Flaps: Planet Earth has done its best to provide both context and leave some questions to speculation. A child can stop on the oceans page and ponder the response to one of the given questions: How far down does the ocean go? Before looking at the answer. They can then combine their ideas with the answer, thus making a life-long connection to the information. The book very nicely divides into easy-to-follow sections, allowing a child to go back for reference or to spend one lesson focused on a topic. At the end is a very clear glossary for reference as well. All in all, it's a very good introduction to some more serious reference and informative texts.

[Kellee Hao · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content: Earth Science: Earth
Grade: Kindergarten
Air, life on earth, the oceans, earthquakes, and volcanoes. What do they all have in common? They're all a part of our planet, Earth! What better way to introduce students to earth science and the features that makes us unique? First it's informative and very detailed, then it asks you related questions that have answers on the other side of the flip side. Isn't that a treat?!

[Lisa Yi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grade level: Kindergarten
Content Level: Earth Science - Earth