Uranus

by Josepha Sherman

A photographic introduction to Uranus, discussing its discovery, revealing what was learned about the planet from the "Voyager 1" and "Voyager 2" missions, and looking at its composition and moons. Includes a list of quick facts and resources for further

63 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 2009

About the author

Josepha Sherman was an American author, folklorist, and anthologist. In 1990 she won the Compton Crook Award for the novel The Shining Falcon.

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

From the front cover depicting the planet Uranus on its side encircled by vertical rings, to the funky typeface used for the body of the text, this volume is marketed to appeal to young readers. This volume offered a good balance of text and illustrations. The text is very approachable and appealing.
Topics include the discovery/identification of Uranus (which was almost named “Herschel”), the discovery/identification of the planet’s moons (with informational text devoted to each one), information gathered by the NASA Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 missions, and information about its 13 known rings (while addressing the planet’s unusual orientation/tilt). Composition of Uranus’ surface/atmosphere, as well as the prohibitive distance to this gas giant, preclude manned missions. Discoveries resulting from the use of the Hubble Space Telescope are included, along with an Earth/Uranus comparison chart, and a facts-at-a-glance summary. A basic index, bibliography, and lists of books/websites to “find out more” are provided.
Unfamiliar terms are highlighted in boldface type and a glossary at the end of the book defines each (although many are made comprehensible through context clues). Many photographs and illustrations detail and complement the text. A scattering of related factoids will interest budding astronomers.

Technically correct, but misleading, the text claims that with the discovery of Uranus “The size of our Solar System had suddenly doubled...” A careful reader will realize this applies to distance, not the number of known planets (which, up to that point, was six). This could pose a small problem for student researchers quoting the passage in school reports.

[Anthony · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was fairly interesting for a while. This book in the series was not the best. Did you know that Uranus has rings like Saturn? Also did you know that inside Uranus's core is a hot "soup" of ammonia, water, and hydrogen. I liked this book but I feel the author could add more interesting and grabbing facts. The book was very organized with photos and facts but just wasn't that interesting. I recommend this book to people who are curious about space and planets.