Star of the Party: The Solar System Celebrates!
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Star of the Party is a funny twist on teaching kids about the solar system. Author Jan Carr packs an amazing number of facts on each page as planets try to plan a birthday party for the sun. And she wisely includes reliable sources where readers can find updated information, such as how many moons have been discovered around Jupiter. The planets' banter can be engaging for young readers or make for a good read-aloud book, but at times it feels forced and overly cute. The beginning of the book has a paragraph of facts about each planet, and fans of outer space will enjoy celebrating a solar system that has humor and personality.
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What's the Story?
In STAR OF THE PARTY, the planets discover the age of their favorite star, the sun, and realize that after so many birthdays, the sun has never had a party. So they start to plan, but the bickering begins when they realize how hard it is to throw a party and make sure there's space for all who are invited, that invitations are made, gifts brought, speeches of good wishes written, and more. Sun deserves a great celebration; can they pull it off?
Is It Any Good?
Jan Carr's fun approach to teaching about the solar system is a great way to engage young readers even when the banter between planets sounds like it's trying a little too hard to be casual. Star of the Party is a fun and funny way to share a ton of bite-sized facts about the planets, stars, moons, and other parts of the solar system. Juana Medina's brightly colored illustrations are happy and upbeat, and the planets' expressions perfectly match the descriptions of their moods. This can be a fun read-aloud book, with planets' different voices acting out their dramatic reactions. The paragraph of facts about each planet at the beginning of the book is a fantastic foundation for the story, and a great start for larger discussions about the solar system.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why the author put reliable websites in Star of the Party so you can find the most current information. Is it important where you get facts like this?
What do you think about humans going into space? Do you want to travel there?
What other books about space have you read? Which are your favlorites?
Book Details
- Author: Jan Carr
- Illustrator: Juana Medina
- Genre: Picture Book
- Topics: STEM, Friendship, Space and Aliens
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
- Publication date: April 27, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 4 - 8
- Number of pages: 40
- Available on: Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: April 20, 2021
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For kids who love science and outer space
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