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Life on Mars
by
In this sneaky, silly picture book for fans of Oliver Jeffers and Jon Klassen, an intrepid but not so clever space explorer is certain he s found the only living thing on Mars
A young astronaut is absolutely sure there is life to be found on Mars. He sets off on a solitary mission, determined to prove the naysayers wrong. But when he arrives, equipped with a package of cupc ...more
A young astronaut is absolutely sure there is life to be found on Mars. He sets off on a solitary mission, determined to prove the naysayers wrong. But when he arrives, equipped with a package of cupc ...more
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Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
February 28th 2017
by Dial Books
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Life on Mars by Jon Agee is a children's book about a boy astronaut searching for life on Mars.
The story is cute, very simple to read, and has an unexpected ending. We enjoyed the illustrations.
4**** ...more
The story is cute, very simple to read, and has an unexpected ending. We enjoyed the illustrations.
4**** ...more

A boy ends up on Mars because he believes there is life on Mars. He wanders the planet not seeing the giant monster who lives there. The illustrations are really nice and the monster is really cute.
However, when the kid finds life on Mars -- a flower -- he plucks it! Hooray, there's life on Mars. Now it's dead. ...more
However, when the kid finds life on Mars -- a flower -- he plucks it! Hooray, there's life on Mars. Now it's dead. ...more

2.5? I don't know. Ugh I really liked the pictures... I found the story problematic though :( My friend pinpointed what was bothering me - that the boy plucks the flower, thus killing it, to bring back as evidence of like on mars. Also it made me really sad that the boy was so oblivious to the alien. I don't know why the review said fans of Oliver Jeffers would like this. The illustrations are pretty adorable, but Oliver Jeffers books to me are very sweet and friendship-affirming. I am probably
...more

Ok maybe I'm being overly sensitive/reading too much into this, but it really bugged me that when the boy finds proof of life on Mars- the only life he's seen at all, and what, as far as he knows, may be the only life on Mars- he kills it in order to bring back as proof.
...more

This is definitely meant for young children, and I think young children will find it really funny. A young boy believes there is life on Mars, so he travels there to search for it. He can't find any (despite the enormous creature following behind him). I'm sure young children will think this is really funny.
I agree with other reviewers that it is problematic that when he does finally find life on Mars (a flower), he picks the flower to prove that there is life on Mars. However, this certainly c ...more
I agree with other reviewers that it is problematic that when he does finally find life on Mars (a flower), he picks the flower to prove that there is life on Mars. However, this certainly c ...more

I'mma move to Mars where the life is still kind and not full of Nazis. Or maybe I'll just go to Canada or Europe...
...more

That last page! The expression on the kid astronaut’s face when he realizes something has happened that he hadn’t noticed is the essence of sci-fi.

This book was precious and philosophically profound. Human beings are an ego-driven species that often can't see beyond their own selves, and this book with it's sweet astronaut and the martian who follows him around the planet reminds children to open their eyes and really observe their surroundings. Our dreams and ambitions are powerful forces in this life, but if we become blinded by them we'll miss the incredible events, forces, and species that make up this incredible universe.
And the Marti ...more
And the Marti ...more

my town gives away a bunch of books once or twice a year and I grabbed this lil book during one of those times. I thought the illustration on the front cover was so cute, got it, and didn’t think twice about it. I was fixing my bookshelves today and saw it and decided to give it a read. & the drawings!!!! throughout the entirety of the book! adorable!! it was such a cute little story, such a unique little plot, and THE ENDING! I don’t usually read children’s books but this one was super adorable
...more

My son and I love this book. It is delightful and beautiful.

Here we meet a young man who has traveled all the way to Mars to prove the existence of life on that planet. I don't want to give away any more of the plot, though you can gather from the cover image that there's plenty of life hanging out there. Let's just say the boy learns a good lesson in the importance of paying attention to the world around you.
(view spoiler)
Jon Agee's books always make me laugh, and this one was no exception.
["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br ...more
(view spoiler)
Jon Agee's books always make me laugh, and this one was no exception.
["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br"]>["br ...more

When a young explorer heads for Mars he is sure he going to find life on the red planet. He hunts high and low and is on the verge of giving up when he spots something! As he explores he fails to notice that he is being followed which gives the young audience a secret to share. On his way home he discovers that he was not alone!
This is a lovely read-a-loud with lots to talk about.
P.S. Megan is amazing. she is my favorite librarian ever. Or at least this week.
This is a lovely read-a-loud with lots to talk about.
P.S. Megan is amazing. she is my favorite librarian ever. Or at least this week.

A child lands on Mars seeking life. He takes along cupcakes to share. He sees nothing but dirt all around him. He finally spots one sign of life. This book is all about the illustrations. We see not only the narrator's story but the reality of the situation as well. Great book for beginning readers or as a read aloud for younger children.
...more

Fun book for space lovers - the astronaut is trying to find life on Mars and yet he cannot see a very large Martian, who follows him from behind.
Illustrations are perfect for this story.
It’s also a quick read so it is appropriate for toddlers through young elementary students.
The kids laughed and voted to give this one 5 stars.
Illustrations are perfect for this story.
It’s also a quick read so it is appropriate for toddlers through young elementary students.
The kids laughed and voted to give this one 5 stars.

Oct 29, 2018
Abigail
rated it
liked it
Recommends it for:
Jon Agee Fans / Young Would-Be Space Explorers
Shelves:
aliens,
picture-books
A young space traveler lands on Mars in this latest humorous picture-book from Jon Agee, determined to find the local life-forms and present them with his gift of chocolate cupcakes. But his wanderings - in which he continuously misses seeing a massive creature that appears to be very curious about him - only serve to convince him that he is wrong, and that there is no life on Mars. Although delighted to eventually find a flower - proof of the life he had believed in all along - our young hero c
...more

This was a fun read aloud. Anything by Agee is pretty much a guaranteed read aloud success.

1. “Good afternoon class for our reading center we will be reading the book ‘Life on Mars’ hmm based on the title what do we think this book might be about? Raise your hand if you would like to make a prediction? (students will raise their hands and share what they might think the book is about) Thank you all for sharing those are awesome predictions. Now, do we think there is life on Mars? I sometimes wonder if there is life on other planets… We are here on Earth but could there be life on Satu
...more

“This book is called Life on Mars. The cover shows a planet in outer space. Here we see an astronaut and he is holding a present. Then we see this guy hiding over here. Looking at this cover, what do we think this story is about?”
I will listen to their ideas and repeat them back to them to clarify what they said.
“Those are all really great ideas. So, we know that Mars is one of the nine planets in our solar system. It’s very similar to the Earth, only a little colder because it is further from ...more
I will listen to their ideas and repeat them back to them to clarify what they said.
“Those are all really great ideas. So, we know that Mars is one of the nine planets in our solar system. It’s very similar to the Earth, only a little colder because it is further from ...more

1.) Who can tell me what planet we live on? (earth) yes, we live on planet earth, and for all we know this is the only planet that has life on it. Do you know what I mean when I say 'life on it'? (have them guess) You guys are close. It does mean that planet earth has living things on it, like plants, animals and humans like us. We have yet to discover life on other planets, but the closest one we believe there might be life on is Mars. (show them a picture of the solar system and point out eart
...more

An amazing book for all, young and old. This tale of a young boy, astronaut explorer, seeking to find out if there is really life on Mars, goes through some very silly and funny scenarios as he searches for something or someone to share his special cupcakes with. Determined to find some form of life, he goes on his quest, unaware of a very large martian who is quite intrigued by him, following and studying him and even sitting quite still, pretending to be a mountain as the boy climbs him. The y
...more

Jun 07, 2018
Maritsa Vazquez
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
children-s-literature,
state-award-books
"Today we are going on an adventure! We are going to read the book Life on Mars. Does anyone know or have any ideas about Mars?" (Children respond.)
"Yes! Mars is a planet. The astronaut in the story is on a mission to find life on Mars. Let's join him as he explores this planet. Remember we are in search of life on Mars, so let's pay close attention because we do not want to miss a thing!"
Activate prior knowledge- Students may be familiar with the solar system and activating prior knowledge woul ...more
"Yes! Mars is a planet. The astronaut in the story is on a mission to find life on Mars. Let's join him as he explores this planet. Remember we are in search of life on Mars, so let's pay close attention because we do not want to miss a thing!"
Activate prior knowledge- Students may be familiar with the solar system and activating prior knowledge woul ...more

The first astronaut has arrived on Mars in search of life - and he's brought cupcakes to share! But the more he explores, the emptier and lonelier the Martian landscape seems to become. Will he have to return home disappointed? The heart of this story is in the illustrations, as the astronaut comically just misses seeing the alien creature over and over. This might be a good read-aloud for the older picture book crowd, as kids will have fun pointing out the alien in the background. The illustrat
...more

Now that was kind of a "meh" book for me.
Possibly because there are lots of good ratings which had raised my expectations pretty high, I guess.
Absurd in so many ways, yes, it's children's book, I understand, but even then.
So this boy flies over to Mars to check if there's some kind of life there, taking chocolate cakes with him to provide as a gift (assuming there are same plants growing and same kind of people living who eat same the type of food as we do?). So don't expect any of that sh*t t ...more
Possibly because there are lots of good ratings which had raised my expectations pretty high, I guess.
Absurd in so many ways, yes, it's children's book, I understand, but even then.
So this boy flies over to Mars to check if there's some kind of life there, taking chocolate cakes with him to provide as a gift (assuming there are same plants growing and same kind of people living who eat same the type of food as we do?). So don't expect any of that sh*t t ...more

This book is about the planet Mars. What number is planet is Mars to the sun? [Have children respond] Mars is close to Earth and similar to it, so scientists are trying to get astronauts to it. In this book, an astronaut goes to Mars to find life. Sometimes, when the astronaut isn’t paying attention something might appear in the background. Be sure to keep an eye open!
(Activate background knowledge) Asking children about their knowledge of space will help them get interested.
(Draws attention t ...more
(Activate background knowledge) Asking children about their knowledge of space will help them get interested.
(Draws attention t ...more

Look at the front cover. Ask what do you think is going on? Where are the characters at? Do you know what an astronaut is? Would you like to travel to space?
Today I am going to read a book called "Life on Mars" by Jon Agee. Let's look at the front cover of the book. I will ask the students "What do you think is going on?" Listen to the student's responses. Next, we will move on to the following question "Where are the characters at?" Listen to the answers the class gives you. I would let them kn ...more
Today I am going to read a book called "Life on Mars" by Jon Agee. Let's look at the front cover of the book. I will ask the students "What do you think is going on?" Listen to the student's responses. Next, we will move on to the following question "Where are the characters at?" Listen to the answers the class gives you. I would let them kn ...more
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I grew up in Nyack, New York, just up the street from the Hudson River. In our house, there was always an art project going on.
My early drawings were very animated: a lot of stuff zipping around, airplanes, racing cars, football players. No surprise my first published drawing was a pack of rats running along a highway (The Rat Race). I did that for the New York Times Op Ed page when I was still in ...more
My early drawings were very animated: a lot of stuff zipping around, airplanes, racing cars, football players. No surprise my first published drawing was a pack of rats running along a highway (The Rat Race). I did that for the New York Times Op Ed page when I was still in ...more
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