Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars by Douglas Florian

Florian, Douglas. 2007. Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars. Ill. by Douglas Florian. Orlando: Harcourt. ISBN 9780152053727

This thematic collection of poems focuses on outer space, just as the title suggests. There are poems about galaxies, stars, the sun, Venus, and Earth, among others. While I have enjoyed other Douglas Florian poetry books, this one fell flat for me. The rhymes seemed simplistic and forced at times (for example: "On a clear night you might try / To gaze upon the starry sky. / A telescope or binoculars are / Great aids to observe a star."), and it seemed to me that the content information often overtook the poetry (probably much to a science teacher's delight!). However, there were several bright spots as well: the concrete poem on galaxies that spirals around and around, the playful spacing in some of the poems that provides illustration of concepts (like long spacing between each word of empty to convey the meaning of the word), and above all, the paintings. The paintings are a beautifully crafted combination of beauty and information, of design and function. With the cut-out holes in certain paintings allowing other colors to peep through from previous paintings, children will enjoy the bright colors and fascinating details.

AWARDS AND REVIEWS:

"The poet-painter's latest book brings warm wit to the outermost reaches of cold, dark space. . . . Florian's illustrations depict the marvels of space with luminous texture and detail." --The New York Times Book Review

"Nothing gladdens the heart of believers of good poetry for children more than a new collection by Florian. . . . This one literally sings the music of the spheres. . . . In both language and artwork, Florian strikes the perfect balance between grandeur and whimsy." --School Library Journal

CONNECTIONS:

This book is almost a must-read any time you teach about space or the solar system. Need I say more?

This book would also be an excellent example book for writing non-fiction poetry (perhaps a minilesson?)

Compare/contrast the author's other poetry collections/books: Beast Feast, Handsprings, Dinothesaurus and Insectlopedia, particularly looking at the way the author finds poetry in non-fiction topics.

Additional poetry books dealing with space:

Sing of the Earth and Sky: Poems about Our Planet and the Wonders Beyond by Aileen Fisher, illustrated by Karmen Thompson

Space Songs by Myra Cohn Livingston, illustrated by Leonard Everett Fisher

Star Walk, edited by Seymour Simon