Comets, Stars, the Moon and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings by Douglas Florian

1.  BIBLIOGRAPHY

Florian, Douglas.  2007. COMETS, STARS, THE MOON, AND MARS: SPACE POEMS AND PAINTINGS. Orlando: Harcourt.  ISBN 9780152053727

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Douglas Florian presents a specialized anthology of twenty poems that provide factual and detailed information relating to elements found in space.  Topics include the different types of galaxies that exist, the planets found in the solar system, and the array of star constellations found in the night sky.

3.  CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book is a single collection that features poems authored by Douglas Florian.  To invite readers into the amazing world of astronomy, he uses space-related terminology that many young readers may have never heard of before.  While using terms such as planetoids and asteroids, he consistently uses end rhymes as well as rhyming couplets to present readers with factual information about the planets, the sun, the galaxies, and the stars.  The short lines used in each of the poems maintain the easy rhythm throughout the book and simultaneously keep young readers' minds engaged.  Florian masterfully mixes the rhythm to fit the space-related vocabulary without sacrificing word meaning or factual information.

Alliteration is used not only to draw attention to some of the planets' distinguishing characteristics, but to also add to the enjoyment of reading these poems out loud.  For example, readers will delight in the playful verse that describes "Jupiter's jumbo/Gigantic" size.  This shows careful consideration of word play on the author's part to ensure that readers will enjoy the words rolling off their tongues.  In addition to alliteration, Florian uses whimsical language to evoke the emotions of awe and wonder.  Young readers will be mesmerized as they "gaze upon the starry sky" to see "this zoo up in the sky."  This ignites readers' curiosity and draws them into the mystical world of astronomy.  This spirit of excitement is also found in the "Jupiter" poem with a verse that reads that the planet is "So super-dupiter/Jupiterrific!"  The excitement and energy captured in this word play makes children eager to discover more of the hidden treasures found among the planets.

Humor is interspersed evenly throughout the book to add to the fun and lively spirit of the poems.  For example, young readers may chuckle when they read that "Pluto was a planet/Pluto was admired/Till one day it got fired," which refers to its loss of planetary status back in 2006.   This not only relays factual information, but also keeps the readers' attention and interest as they read through the poems.  They may also find the explanation of Mercury's quick revolutions around the sun amusing.  Mercury is described as "Always racing, on the run.../You'd run, too, so near the sun."  Using humor in this manner keeps readers engaged as they turn each page in search of the collections' next witty poem.

The incredible world of astronomy is brought to life through Florian's particular use of descriptive words to paint the planets' environments in readers' minds.   Readers can vividly picture what the atmosphere of Mars is like as it is described as "red", "rusty/sandy, rocky,/Very dusty."  They can also sense the heat and imagine the solar flares that emanate from the "Scalding-hot surface" of planet Venus.  By using descriptive words with specific details about the planets' atmosphere and surface environments, Florian appeals to the readers' senses and makes the planets come alive.

In addition to imagery, Florian uses the graphic techniques of stamping, drawings, and cut and paste images in collage-type illustrations throughout the book.  These illustrations not only provide a visually rich experience, but also help readers understand the poems and information being presented.  Each of the twenty poems is presented in a two page format, with the poem located on one side of the page and the illustrations spanning both pages.  The vibrant colors of fuchsia pink, aqua green, and rustic orange add to the energy and liveliness conveyed in the poems while the die cut pages add to the physical appeal of the book.  Readers will want to physically touch the pages and let their fingers feel the smooth edges of the die cut patterns.  While the stamping and cut and paste images are meant to keep readers engaged, they at times overwhelm the poems and distract readers from the factual information being given.  Some of the pages are cluttered and are too busy as the illustrations and poems compete for the readers' attention.  This is notably evident in the  the poem titled "A Galaxy."  Readers are distracted from the poem as their eyes dart back and forth between the irregular shapes and different sizes of the spirals, ovals, and swirls that  represent the different types of galaxies that exist.  As an added challenge, the poem is oriented in a spiral, circular-shaped format.  While this is meant to be fun for young readers, they will have a hard time reading the poem as they turn the book round and round, and the printed words begin to crowd together and reduce in size.

Although some of the collage-type illustrations are distracting, this space-themed book does a wonderful job of introducing young readers to many of the mystical and mysterious elements found in the universe.  The book is well organized and includes a wide variety of astronomical topics, such as the universe, comets, constellations, and black holes.  The table of contents page reveals that the planetary poems are arranged according to the planets' distance from the sun, beginning with Mercury and ending with the demoted Pluto.  As an added bonus, Florian has also included a "Galactic Glossary" and "Selected Bibliography" to provide more insight for each of the twenty poems in the specialized anthology.  Readers in grades four through eight will enjoy reading the fun and exciting poems aloud because of the consistent rhyme scheme used throughout the entire book.  The spirit and wonder of each of the poems will inspire inquisitive minds to venture out and learn more.

4.  Review Excerpts

CHILDREN'S LITERATURE: "With cut-outs, colors, and word play Florian goes on to describe celestial bodies and ideas--from planets to black holes--with perceptions sure to set a child to wondering and longing."

KIRKUS: "Stunning mixed-media illustrations accompany a series of poems that celebrate the wonder and mystery of space."

THE BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S BOOKS: "Though they’re leavened with humor, the compact verses are genuinely informative rather than jocular, providing an enticing introduction to astronomy for kids fonder of language arts than science and offering the science-inclined some gems for recitation."

5.  Connections

* Introduce students to star gazing and the major constellations through the "Constellation Hunt" game found at the Kids Astronomy website.  In the game, children are asked to find and locate a specific constellation with the click of their mouse.  The game may be found at http://www.kidsastronomy.com/astroskymap/constellation_hunt.htm.  If they have their own telescopes, have them study the night sky for a month and map out the constellations they observe.

* Get students to sing along and dance to the "Constellation Jig", which gives a fun run through of the major constellations, such as Pegasus, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.  The website can be found at http://www.kidsknowit.com/educational-songs/play-educational-song.php?song=Constellation%20Jig

* For older students, have them investigate the circumstances that brought about Pluto's demotion.  They may also conduct a more in-depth investigation of each of the planets' environments.