Children's Books discussion

The theme for November is Outer Space. As always, we will select five books plus one alternate book. Now's your chance to VOTE for the books you'd like to read with the group next month.

As you make your selections, please keep in mind that the focus for November will be NON-FICTION books. Based on votes, I will choose three non-fiction and two fiction (or all non-fiction if everyone votes that way) and one longer title for older students.

Also, please keep in mind that, for purposes of this club, "picture books" means appropriate for ages 4-8, approximately 32-pages with lots of illustrations. Given the non-fiction focus of the theme, we may have some picture books for slightly older children (age 10 or so).

I know there has been interest in doing a longer "picture book" selection for older students since in the non-fiction realm a lot of books fall between those appropriate for the wee ones and the upper-level books for middle grade and above. We will select ONE of these as an alternate (sixth) title for this month so please vote for only one longer picture book and five shorter ones.

Since we have so many different types of books this month (fiction, non-fiction, long picture books, even some poetry) I'm not making a comprehensive list but rather asking that you read over the posts below to see all the titles nominated and the comments made by those nominating so you will have a better understanding of each title. I know this is more cumbersome but I also hope it helps you make an informed vote.

Thanks and happy voting! :-)
Voting will close October 20th.

All non-fiction:

If You Decide To Go To The Moon

Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon* ages 9-12, 80 pages

Look to the Stars

One Giant Leap

There's No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System

What's Out There?: A Book about Space

Also, historical fiction:
The Moon Over Star

--by the way, this article just popped up on Yahoo! today and I thought it was rather good timing for those of us interested in space. It talks about a "new planet": http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100929/a...

Abigail wrote: "How exciting! My first recommendation would be Brian Floca's Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11, which, in addition to being informative, is gorgeous!"

Oh, I love that one! :-) Great choice.

I am putting my vote in for one fiction book, since we are concentrating on non-fiction. I love the cover. I will be back with my non-fiction choices.


Moonhorse

I second Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11; it was great. I'll try to think of some more books this weekend. I've got a few on the tip of my brain.

There's also always The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System.

I third Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11
and add a couple more.
The Planet Hunter: The Story Behind What Happened to Pluto
Nicolaus Copernicus: The Earth Is a Planet

Thanks for the nominations!

"Regards to the Man in the Moon" by Ezra Jack Keats. This is fiction.

Here's a great list of space titles! I'm not suggesting that every one of these titles become an official nomination as it's a long list and some of the books are beyond the scope of our picture book club, or don't seem readily available, but I thought it would make a great resource. If you do see any books on here you'd really like to nominate, feel welcome!

http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/y...

Here are a few that looked good to me:

Commander Toad and the Big Black Hole--totally fiction but it's by Jane Yolen and I love the "Star Trek" spoof idea ;-)

Zoom! Zoom! Zoom! I'm Off To The Moon

There are several Lets-Read-It-And-Find-Out books, including The Moon Seems to Change, What the Moon is Like, and The Sky Is Full of Stars. Kathryn mentioned If You Decide To Go To The Moon by Faith McNulty. I haven't read it, but it sounds great and it was illustrated by the wonderful Steven Kellogg.

Thanks for the list Kathryn! Wilhelmina and Kathryn, thanks for mentioning a Steven Kellogg illustrated book I was not aware of. Hope that gets picked as one of the reads. :) I get so excited when I find a book illustrated by him. It is sort of a book treasure hunt I have played for years when visiting used
bookstores, etc. Sure, I could look them up all online, but it would take away the fun. It stems from childhood memories reading some of his books to my brothers and sisters.

The "Moon Over Star" looks really good. I was considering buying it, but ran out of book-buying money! I think there would be a lot to discuss about that book--because I think the theme (SPOILER) is how can we justify spending so much on space when some people don't have enough food? (I think.)

I haven't read this, but I want to: "Is a Blue Whale the Biggest Thing There Is?" by Robert E. Wells. I think it is kind of spacey.

Oooh, more great nominations! Thank you :-) And, I, too, am a Steven Kellogg fan!

I've enjoyed Reaching for the Moon very much. Buzz Aldrin writes his life's story at a children's level (age 6-9). I find it very inspiring. Actually, I should get it out to read again but I tend to keep my copies out of reach of my children because we got them signed by Buzz Aldrin!

Dorothea wrote: "I've enjoyed Reaching for the Moon very much. Buzz Aldrin writes his life's story at a children's level (age 6-9). I find it very inspiring. Actually, I should get it out to read but I tend to keep my copies out of reach of my children because we got them signed by Buzz Aldrin!"

That's SO exciting, Dorothea! And I'm glad it's a good book--I hoped it would be. Sometimes celebrities aren't the best authors, but sometimes they are wonderful with words. I think it's great when they can tell their own story in a captivating way.

Chandra wrote: "A fun poetry collection:
Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings."

Oooh, poetry! Yay. I really want to include more poetry picture books in the group reads. I looked up your review (and Lisa's!) and promptly put this on reserve at the library. Actually, so many of these nominations look so good--I'm going to have to read them even if they don't win for our group reads :-)

Thanks, Chandra. I'd forgotten about Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings. It's a good one!

I always love Seymour Simon's nonfiction because of the amazing images. He has several older titles about space, planets, etc., but his book Our Solar System was revised and republished in 2007. This book would be for older readers - ages 9+.

Well, a lot of picture books are now written for older children. Rather than the ages 3-6 or 4-8, there are many books I'd recommend for 7-10 or 8-12 or 9-13.

Lots of great suggestions here! I'm looking forward to voting and reading and discussing.

Bernadette wrote: "I always love Seymour Simon's nonfiction because of the amazing images. He has several older titles about space, planets, etc., but his book Our Solar System was revised and republished in 2007. This book would be for older readers - ages 9+. ."

Thanks for clarifying the age group on this, Bernadette! It looks like a great option for our alternative title :-)

Bernadette wrote: "I always love Seymour Simon's nonfiction because of the amazing images."

I agree - just spectacular!

Thanks to all who offered up nominations. Looks like we have an exceptional list of books from which to choose! Please VOTE by posting your nominations in the comments. Remember the focus this month is on NON-FICTION titles--for details, see my opening post above.

My votes go to:

NON-FICTION for younger kids:
If You Decide To Go To The Moon
Look to the Stars
Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings
Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11


FICTION:
The Moon Over Star

NON-FICTION for older kids/alternate title:
Our Solar System

Non-Fiction:
Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11
If You Decide To Go To The Moon
Nicolaus Copernicus: The Earth Is a Planet Artwork looks lovely!
The Planet Hunter: The Story Behind What Happened to Pluto

Fiction:
Moonhorse

--Just a little insert here, you can see some cool constellations very well this week if you're in the Northern Hemisphere:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/2010101...

Here are my votes:

If You Decide To Go To The Moon

Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11

The Planet Hunter: The Story Behind What Happened to Pluto

Fiction: The Moon Over Star

Older: Our Solar System

My 5 votes:

The Planet Hunter: The Story Behind What Happened to Pluto

Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11

Nicolaus Copernicus: The Earth Is a Planet

Our Solar System

Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings

I know it's too late to add another title, because it's actually voting time, not nominating, but a book worth mentioning for those who may want to read on this topic outside of the discussion is Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei by Peter Sis. It is for older readers and has very attractive illustrations. Although he writes challenging books, I always try to have something by Peter Sis in my picture book collection. I usually catalog this title as biography of an astronomer.

Thanks, Gaynor! Always great to add to our Master List.

Okay, here are my votes:

NONFICTION:
If You Decide To Go To The Moon

Reaching for the Moon with Hardcover Book
Nicolaus Copernicus: The Earth Is a Planet

FICTION (Poetry):
Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings


Older Readers:
Our Solar System

Thanks for all the votes so far! As a reminder, today is the last day to cast yours if you haven't done so already.

I decided not to vote for any specific picture books, because I don't know how much time I will have in November (and, I also have a huge load of currently-reading books I should really start tackling), but if I find any of the chosen picture books at the local library and have time to read them, I will try to join in.

Looks like everyone above me picked out all the good ones already :) I did some looking and the ones listed are at my library so I will go with what gets picked by the group and join in on the discussions.

Gundula and Brenda--thanks so much for the comments! I appreciate the feedback from participants so I know that you're still involved (as much as time permits, of course!) and still interested in the group ;-> I want to make sure it stays strong and enjoyable for everyone!

Our books have been chosen!!!

If You Decide To Go To The Moon (Booklist Editor's Choice. Books for Youth

Moonshot: The Flight of Apollo 11

The Planet Hunter: The Story Behind What Happened to Pluto

Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings

We had a tie for the fiction title so I'm breaking the tie with The Moon Over Star because my library doesn't have "Moonhorse" and I want to be able to read as many as I can given that I'm moderator.

ALTERNATE TITLE (for older children)
Our Solar System

Thanks again to all for the nominations and votes. Looking forward to starting our discussion November 1st :-)

I will go reserve now. Yeah!

Recommended by Leslie in our discussion thread: Sheep Blast Off! which she and her son have read and enjoyed several times.

I loved Astronaut Handbook! Informative, lively and fun; highly recommended for any budding "star sailor" ;-)

I just read One Giant Leap and I loved how it had enough detail and clarity that I actually learned stuff. Depending on how much of a fan of the topic a child is, it might be accessible to children as young as 4. Gorgeous pictures.

Cheryl in CC NV wrote: "I just read One Giant Leap and I loved how it had enough detail and clarity that I actually learned stuff. Depending on how much of a fan of the topic a child is, it might be accessible to childre..."

Thanks for posting!