Published by Sterling Children’s Books

Summary:  On January 19, 2006, a spacecraft called New Horizons blasted off from Earth, traveling toward what was then the planet Pluto.  It took ten years to reach that destination, during which time Pluto’s designation changed from planet to dwarf planet.  Much of that decade was spent by New Horizons in a shutdown state, hurtling through space on autopilot at a million miles per (Earth) day.  In late 2014, scientists “woke” New Horizons again, and in 2015, she began transmitting photos of Pluto that captivated Earthlings and greatly increased understanding of the dwarf planet and its moons.  A few years later, on New Year’s Day of 2019, New Horizons reached another object called Arrokoth that had been discovered in the years after her launch.  Photos of Arrokoth helped scientists understand more about the early years of the solar system.  New Horizons isn’t done yet, as she continues to travel further out in space.  Includes a timeline, glossary, and resources for additional research.  40 pages; grades 1-5.

Pros:  This charming science book gives New Horizons a quirky personality and uses words like “ginormous”, but also makes the story of scientific discovery engaging and packs a lot of information about space exploration and the solar system into a 40-page picture book.

Cons:  I was wishing for more information on how New Horizons transmits photos and information back to Earth, which seems like an impossible task over such a great distance.

Published by HarperCollins

Summary:  Many of us have heard that Isaac Newton developed the theory of gravitation after watching an apple fall off of a tree.  Newton is the star of that story, but what about the tree?  Believe it or not, it still stands outside of Woolsthorpe Manor, Isaac’s home in Lincolnshire England, and has been visited by such scientific superstars as Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking.  A sliver of it traveled aboard the International Space Station and was released into space.  A piece was used on a carriage handcrafted for Queen Elizabeth II.  And offspring from its seeds have been planted around the world.  It all started with one apple seed, and, the book concludes, you too contain the potential to change the world.  Includes additional information about the gravity tree, Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking; a timeline of Newton’s life; and a bibliography.  40 pages; grades K-5.

Pros:  2021 does seem to be the year of the tree: counting trees, wise trees, historical trees, and now a tree that has inspired famous scientists.  It’s a fun and fresh way to introduce kids to the works of Newton, Einstein, and Hawking, while using the metaphor of a seed to inspire them to think about their own potential.  The back matter makes it a great book for older elementary kids.

Cons:  Turns out the apple didn’t hit Newton on the head which takes away a bit of the drama from the story.

Published by Crown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  The sun is 4.6 billion years old, and the planets have decided to throw a birthday party.  They consider the guest list (if they invite Pluto, will they have to include the other dwarf planets?  Can a moon be counted as a plus-one if a planet has over 70 moons?) and what to give as a gift, finally settling on a testimonial from each one of them.  When the big day arrives, each one has a touching message, and as a surprise, the mysterious voice of Planet X is heard, wishing the sun a happy birthday from a great distance.  The sun is pretty reserved, but she declares the party “Stellar”, while looking both beaming and radiant.  Includes a list of websites, with the note that scientists are constantly learning new facts about the solar system, so the web can provide the most up-to-date information.  40 pages; grades K-3.

Pros:  A great combination of a fun story and lots of facts about the planets that would make a good companion to Adam Rex’s Pluto Gets the Call.  I liked the acknowledgement that science changes so fast that books can go out of date quickly.

Cons:  Pluto got left off the guest list.

Published by Crown Books for Young Readers

Summary:  A great white shark makes the case that he is the greatest.  Or is he?  Turns out, there are other sharks that are bigger, smaller, faster, and every other superlative he tries to be.  By the end, he’s ready to change his name to the just-okay white shark or the not-so-great white shark.  But then a little fish comes along and tells him there’s always going to be someone who is bigger, faster, smarter, or whatever than you are, and it’s best being happy to be you.  That makes the great white happy, and he concludes by flashing his 300-tooth-grin…the greatest smile in the book.  Includes thumbnails of all sharks mentioned with additional information and “More Books to Sink Your Teeth Into”.  48 pages; ages 4-9.

Pros:  It’s a no-brainer that any book featuring sharks is going to be hugely popular, and the funny premise of this one, combined with Laurie Keller’s humorous illustrations will only add to that.  Don’t be misled by all the jokester sharks, though…there is also plenty of information to fill your hammerhead shark-size-brain.

Cons:  I thought the pages with a labelled diagram of the great white shark and the shark facts in the middle of the book kind of interrupted the story; they seemed more like back matter.