Our Solar System: Revised Edition

by Seymour Simon

Join award-winning science writer Seymour Simon in this completely updated edition of  Our Solar System , as he takes young readers on a fascinating tour through space!  With beautiful full-color photographs and spacecraft images, including many taken by the Mars rovers and Hubble Space Telescope, this nonfiction picture book teaches young readers all about the solar system, including the sun, the eight planets, and their moons. Covering all the latest discoveries in space, young astronomers will be over the moon about the fun facts, fascinating science, and incredible photographs. A must-have for every child interested in outer space!   This book includes an author's note, a glossary, an index, and further reading suggestions. An excellent choice for classrooms and homeschooling,  Our Solar System  supports the Common Core State Standards. Check out these other Seymour Simon books about the universe and

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Picture Books, Space, Childrens, Astronomy, Nature

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Seymour Simon, whom the NY Times called "the dean of [children's science:] writers," is the author of more than 250 highly acclaimed science books (many of which have been named Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children by the National Science Teachers Association).

Seymour Simon uses his website, SeymourSimon.com, to provide free downloads of a wealth of materials for educators, homeschoolers and parents to use with his books, including 4-page Teacher Guides for all 26 of his Collins/Smithsonian photo essay books. The site provides multiple resources for kids writing book reports or wanting to explore the online Science Dictionary, and also features the Seymour Science blog highlighting current science news. Educators and families are encouraged to sign up to receive the monthly newsletter from SeymourSimon.com to stay abreast of the latest materials that Seymour Simon is introducing to enrich the reading experience.

He taught science and creative writing in elementary and secondary schools and was chair of the science department at a junior high school in the New York City public school system before leaving to become a full-time writer. "I haven't really given up teaching," he says, "and I suppose I never will, not as long as I keep writing and talking to kids around the country and the world."

Seymour Simon is also a creator and the author of a series of 3D books and a series of Glow-in-the-Dark Books for Scholastic Book Clubs, a series of leveled SEEMORE READERS for Chronicle Books, and the EINSTEIN ANDERSON, SCIENCE DETECTIVE series of fiction books. His books encourage children to enjoy the world around them through learning and discovery, and by making science fun. He has introduced tens of millions of children to a staggering array of subjects; one prominent science education specialist described Simon's books as "extraordinary examples of expository prose."

Seymour Simon has been honored with many awards for his work, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Subaru Lifetime Achievement Award for his lasting contribution to children's science literature; the New York State Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature; the Hope S. Dean Memorial Award from the Boston Public Library for his contribution to children's science literature; The Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for Non-fiction; the Jeremiah Ludington Award for his outstanding contribution to children's nonfiction; the Empire State Award for excellence in literature for young people; and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Forum on Children's Science Books.

In a recent interview Simon was asked if he ever thinks of retiring. "I seem to be working faster and harder than ever. I absolutely don't feel any urge to sit back and look at what I've done. The only things that I'm thinking about are things I'd like to do in the future. I'm planning and doing and continuing to write. It's what I love to do. I remember a story about an anthropologist going to talk to a tribe and he asked them what was their word for "work." Their response was they have no word for work. Everybody does the things that they do in their life. I love that response. I don't differentiate between work and play. Everything I do is something that I enjoy doing - the writing, the research and everything else."

Seymour Simon writes and photographs nature from his hilltop home in Columbia County in upstate New York, where he lives with his wife Liz Nealon.

You can follow Seymour on Facebook and on Twitter, as well as on his website, which offers free, downloadable Teacher Guides to his books for educators, parents and homeschoolers, as well as the popular Seymour Science Daily Blo

Reviews

[Manybooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW OF THE UPDATED 2014 EDITION

Yes and first and foremost, if you are actually planning on using Seymour Simon’s non fiction picture book Our Solar System for actual teaching purposes (either in the classroom or at home), you MOST DEFINITELY need to be choosing the most recent and updated version (namely the one from 2014), since the original edition from 1995 of course will still list Pluto as the ninth planet. And while I personally do have my own issues and frustrations with Pluto being demoted and now only considered as a dwarf planet, well, an astronomy book that is to be used for children’s education should naturally also be as up-to-date as possible. Therefore, although this edition of Our Solar System would bien sûr still not be sufficiently updated with regard to post 2014 discoveries, research and NASA voyages, Seymour Simon’s text for Our Solar System does indeed provide a nicely decent and more than adequate basic introduction to the solar system, to the eight planets of the solar system, including of course the earth as well, and also showing us the reasons why Pluto is no longer considered to be a planet but must share its status as a planetoid (as a dwarf planet) with other similar entities like Ceres, Sedna and Eris (and indeed, for further research, although Seymour Simon does not provide a bibliography in book form, the 2014 edition of Our Solar System includes four websites, and yes, this might in fact even be a trifle preferable, as those websites would more than likely stay up-to-date whilst for books that would and could of course not be the case).

Now with regard to the actual textual and factual representation for Our Solar System, albeit I believe Seymour Simon provides a useable and sufficiently interesting general introduction to the solar system for children from about the age of seven to eleven or so (and appreciatively in a clear and concise manner and thankfully without using confusing and too much verbally difficult science and astronomy specific jargon), I also wish that sometimes Seymour Simon’s printed words would go just a wee bit farther and expand a bit (such as for example mentioning the reason why Mars might now only have vestiges of either an atmosphere or water could be that unlike Earth, Mars has no plate tectonics and that the orbits of Neptune and Pluto regularly intersect so that sometimes Neptune is actually further from the sun and vice versa). But still, and as long as the updated 2014 edition of Our Solar System is used, I do recommend Seymour Simon’s text for older children (for the intended audience) either reading Our Solar System on their own or for parents and teachers reading Our Solar System with or to them (and that I therefore also rate the 2014 revised edition of Our Solar System with a solid four stars).

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is outdated. I loved reading about planet Pluto, but it’s a non-fiction book I wouldn’t recommend reading in 2010. In 1992, when it was published, I would have found it worthy.

The photos, illustrations, and other pictorial content are superb.

The solar system, the sun, each planet (at the time), asteroids, comets, and meteoroids are covered, and there is a fairly good index.

However, I’m sure there are more recently published books that would be better choices if the reader wants to learn about our solar system.

This was the sixth, optional for older children, book for this month’s “space” theme for the November Picture Books Club at the Children's Books group. I think I voted for it, but I should have checked its publication date.

This is tough to rate. It’s still got some interesting information that reflects our current knowledge so I will give it 3 stars. In 1992: 4 or 4-1/2 stars, now 1 or 2, though that’s not the book’s/author’s fault.

ETA: I just found out in a thread in the Children's Books group that this book does have an updated edition that explains the Pluto situation. I suspect I'd give that edition 4 stars. Make sure to get the newest edition of this book!!!

[Erik This Kid Reviews Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mr. Simon has written a nice nonfiction book about our solar system. He explains a lot of things, and taught me some new things, like why Pluto is considered a dwarf planet (this is part of the "updated" version of this book). I think that he explains things in a simple way that kids can understand. The pictures in the book are cool. I like that there is a glossary in the back. I wish some of the illustrations had captions on them. I think it is a great choice for an introduction to the solar system for kids.
*NOTE* I got a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book, with good overviews- and interesting facts -of all the planets, as well as asteroids, comets, and meteors. I learned so many interesting things!
The photos are wonderful!

Just so you know, notes: Pluto's still included as a planet.
Evolution/The Big Bang is mentioned twice.
The final line says the Universe is God.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

We've read several books by Seymour Simon and I really appreciate the way that he combines big, colorful photographs with informative, but not overwhelmingly detailed narratives. We learn a little more about each topic as we read and we are entertained as well.

In 2007, this book was updated to include more recent consensus on the status of Pluto and other planetary objects. It was a necessary change to the original book published in 1992. We really enjoyed reading this book together and our oldest commented on the fact that her class is studying this material now, so it's a timely read. I was impressed with her knowledge about Saturn, which is the planet she and her partner are focusing on.

This book was selected as one of the books for the November 2010 - Outer Space reads at the Picture-Book Club in the Children's Books Group here at Goodreads.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

We've read many of Seymour Simon's books and I really appreciate the way that he combines big, colorful photographs with informative, but not overwhelmingly detailed narratives.

We learn a little more about each topic as we read and we are entertained by the amazing images as well.

At the end of the book, the author provides a glossary and index as well as some online resources for more information.

In 2007, this book was updated to include more recent consensus on the status of Pluto and other planetary objects. It was a necessary change to the original book published in 1992.

This edition was updated in 2014 and again, reflects our increased comprehension of the solar system's composition.

It also includes more recent images from various interplanetary spacecraft. The pictures are gorgeous and I really enjoyed reading this book again.

[Laura Cheek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seymour Simon rules the nonfiction shelves with his amazing photos. I love these books for the school age child. Younger ones may be able to understand the books by Gail Gibbons a little better - although the artwork in those doesn't stand up to the real photos in Simon's books. Excellent!

[Meghan Corry and Nicole Zara Corry]

Summary: This book explains all that there is to know about our large solar system. The reader will be transported through all of the planets and the moons that surround it. Beautiful pictures accompany the easy to read information, truly bringing to life our solar system right before the readers eyes!
Review: Our Solar System was a great book to use while teaching the solar system. The pictures were vibrant and detailed, making the information even easier to understand. I find then when there are pictures along with information children are more interested. This is a great to use as an additional resource for science projects as well.

[Macie Estes · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was very informational and would be perfect for introducing research in the classroom. I would recommend it for advanced readers, due to the content, vocabulary used, and length of the book. It is not one I would do a read aloud with, but I would consider having it in my classroom library.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the best organized and most comprehensive depictions of the solar system I've come across. There is enough information for kids to come away with significant knowledge but not so much detail that the important facts are lost in the text. I really enjoyed reading this book to my space loving 4 and 6 year olds.

[Dawn Laws · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is all about the solar system. It has good descriptive paragraphs and pictures and illustrations.

I rated this book 5/5 because it offers great information about the solar system with graet pictures that makes it fun and interesting to read.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I use Seymour Simon's books as a supplement in my Space science unit - the picture are outstanding but the text is wordy and technical - too much for K. This updated version is nice but it has not been updated to include the lovely photos of Pluto.

Q2021 book

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gives brief, concise facts about the sun, each planet, and other objects in the solar system. Enhanced by spectacular photographs. Makes assumptions about events never observed by humans, such as the beginning of the solar system.

[Abbie Gerig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Informational
Grades: 1-5

I liked this book not because of the facts it had on each planet, but because of the pictures it had of each planet. Each picture was an actual picture taken in space. The facts were cool to learn, but without the pictures, the book would have boring to read.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought that this book was very good and very informational.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and interesting read aloud.

[Asho · Rating 3 out of 5]

S (age 6) picked out this book. We only ended up reading about half of it. It was a bit over his head for now.

[Narcarsia Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very informative book with wonderful photographs.

[Andrea Bragdon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introductory book to use to get excited about learning more about planets, galaxies, stars, etc.

[Marai · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a very good book . It taught my child a lot. he loved it.

[Brianna Canales · Rating 2 out of 5]

science, earth, outer-space, stars

[Megan B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short but thorough descriptions of the planets.

[Anjalica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome information and a child would really enjoy this read. Very educational

[Samara O'Gorman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast and simplified read to prep me for my Introduction to Astronomy class I’m taking this Autumn! I’ll be referencing it again when I need.

[Lainey Hunt]

Scientific, realistic images, explained simply

[Giselle Cazares · Rating 3 out of 5]

planets and moons

[Amanda687 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5. Great short and fun read. Easy to understand about our solar system.

[Alana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good summary of the currently known information about the bodies of the solar system. Even if Pluto still gets robbed as a planet 🤪

[Kaylee Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author: Seymour Simon
Illustrator: Seymour Simon
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0439762052

Summary: This book shares in detail information about the different aspects of our solar system. Reading this book provides one information on the planets, moons, asteroids, the sun, etc. It can be broken down into sections or read all at once.

[Malek Sibai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Name: Malek Sibai

Date: Feb/25/16

Section: 7-3
Good Reads #5 First Encyclopedia of Science

This amazing book, Our Solar System written by Seymour Simon has many interesting facts that I did not know about Science I read this book. The book starts saying how our Solar System, Milky Way, and our Galaxy which is important because it is how our Planet Earth was formed which we live in right now. Our Solar System is formed by a huge cloud of hydrogen was flying in space until it was touching the edges of our galaxy and-and crumbled and stuck together to make a shape of a circle which it was making a globe. The Globe was Becoming hotter and hotter to make land until it cools off. “About 4.6 billion years ago, a huge cloud of dust and hydrogen gas floating at the edges of the galaxy began to pull together to form a disk” (Simone pg. 2 electronically). The sun is very massive compared then the sun it so that the Earth needs to be the size of the Sun it needs to be 13 times itself. Their only eight planets that are Orbiting our Sun and these planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Inside the Sun, there is hydrogen gas that is very powerful. This Hydrogen is making the Sun bright that your eyes will suffer if you stare at it. Mercury is the smallest planet in our Solar System named by the Romans which meant quick-footed messenger of God. For us, a day on Earth is 2 months in Mercury because it is slow while turning on its axis. These are the interesting facts in the fantastic book Our Solar System written by Seymour Simon.


The book Our Solar System written by Seymour Simon is the most interesting, enthusiastic, and funniest I book I had ever read. The photograph that I preferred the most is when the hydrogen that was a big cloud forming the globe, and inside you can see the hydrogen gas is heating and heating the globe so that it can form land. “Hydrogen is the sun’s fuel. The sun uses about four million tons of hydrogen every second. Still, the sun has enough hydrogen to continue shining for another five to six billion years” (Hinton pg. 5 electronically) Another Title for this book will be a Trip to Space because not only it talks about planets and how have they formed the author also talked about Space. There are five facts I’d like that I had learned while reading this book. The first fact I learned in this book was the Planets were made of with hydrogen gas inside it. The second fact that I learned is that I've you would compare the Earth and the Universe you would see even smaller than a grain of sand. The third fact that I've learned is that the brightest planet in our Solar System is Venus. The Romans named Venus because of its beauty and brightness of it. My fourth fact that I learned in this book is that Earth is not named the green land but the water or liquid land because more than 71% of water is made of water the rest is the only land. My fifth fact that I learned in this book is that the Romans named the planet Mars because it reminded them about their bloody war science mars is reddish. These are my 3 question that I’ve answered this book Our Solar System written by Seymour Simon.

I would recommend this book Our Solar System written by Seymour Simon to 8th grade until 5th grade because this book is kind of easy. This book Our Solar System is very descriptive sometimes to try to make Middle Schoolers could also participate this book. The book has many interesting facts that made the reader me and another that read it keep on reading because of the learning that they can have on this book. This book is also a cool book to read because it has many facts that I did not learn and when you are reading a book that is a new topic for you surely it will have something to teach you. I fact that I did not like about this book was only 49 pages which are a minor number for a book. I fact that loved about the book is that the author wrote a note which I always have the pleasure reading it because he always talks about when he was younger and what inspired him to write this book.