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  I liked the acknowledgement that science changes so fast that books can go out of date quickly.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.

Published by Candlewick

Summary:  Which two are the most closely related: hippo, dolphin, shark?  That question is asked before the title page; the text goes back to the beginning of life on earth to find an answer.  Each two-page spread shows animals for a geologic period, with several sentences of text telling what happened during this time.  The final three (Paleozoic Era, Mesozoic Era, and Cenozoic Era) are covered on two pages and take us up to the present, where we learn how the hippo and dolphin are related.  “Always changing.  Always evolving.  From out of the blue…and back again.”  Includes a list of sources.  32 pages; grades 1-5.  

Pros:  An excellent introduction to geological history and evolution.  Kids will enjoy poring over the illustrations of so many interesting creatures from so many different time periods.  A first-rate science book.

Cons:  It’s pretty challenging to cover the history of life on Earth in just 32 pages, and I can’t help thinking a little more back matter could have added more substance.

Published by Millbrook Press

Summary:  Readers learn about insects’ body parts as a young artist works on creating one.  First comes the head, followed by the thorax and the abdomen.  Decisions are made about a skeleton, legs, and wings.  Then the senses are considered: eyes, ears, a mouth, and antennae.  Decorations like hair and horns are the final touch before the insect is given a place to live and a snack, at which point the artist declares the work done.  Includes a two-page labeled illustration of an insect, a glossary, and instructions for building an insect model.  32 pages; grades K-4.

Pros:  An engaging way to learn about insects, with large, colorful illustrations and text that reads like a conversation between the narrator and the artist.  A perfect example of blending art and science.

Cons:  Kind of an anti-climactic ending.