COMETS, STARS, THE MOON, AND MARS: SPACE POEMS AND PAINTINGS by Douglas Florian

Review by Christi De Leon

a.    BIBLIOGRAPHY

Florian, Douglas. Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars: Space Poems and Paintings. Orlando, Florida: Harcourt, Inc., 2007. ISBN 9780152053727

b.    SUMMARY & CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book contains twenty poems that all revolve around the topic of outer space. Specifics include components of the universe, planets of the solar system, the sun, the moon, constellations, and more.

Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars is a one-of-a-kind poetry book that adds a bit of rhythm to science by joining astronomy with quality poetry. Young scientists, especially those who love astronomy, will enjoy this collection of space poems. Each double-page spread is dedicated to a specific subject with a short, yet well-crafted poem. The poems are thoughtfully pieced together beginning with two kids observing the night sky with wonder. Planets, for instance, are introduced according to their distance from the sun. The poems themselves are a fusion of information and fun, with traces of humor mixed in. Each poem is presented somewhat differently, but still has a rhyming pattern. For example, the poem called "A Galaxy" exemplifies a concrete poem that takes the shape of a spiral.

At first glance, readers are likely drawn to the luminous font and illustrations on the midnight blue background of the cover. Florian continues to present the spectacular sights of space throughout the book with artwork that does not disappoint. The double-page spreads consist of cosmic artwork to accompany the poems. This art consists of gauche, collage, and rubber stamps. Cutout pages represent many of the planets in a unique way. Additional features include a table of contents and a page called “selected bibliography and further reading.” Another valuable component is “A galactic glossary.” This provides readers with a concise description about each subject from the book. Overall, this book is a must-have for library and classroom collections.

c.    POEM TO SPOTLIGHT AND SHARE

"The Moon"

A NEW moon isn’t really new,

It’s merely somewhat dark to view.

A CRESCENT moon may seem to smile,

Gladly back after a while.

A HALF moon is half dark, half light.

At sunset look due south to sight.

A FULL moon is a sight to see,

Circular in geometry.

After full, the moon will wane

Night by night, then start again.

This poem shows an example of how Douglas Florian uses rhyming and excellent word choices to get a fun, educational message across to readers. The connection between a crescent moon and a smile, for instance, is a fascinating idea. This poem has the potential to help students visualize the phases of the moon as they have seen in the sky.

This poem could be shared by reading aloud as a way to introduce the phases of the moon. Displaying a slideshow of real photographs with the various phases would help students make connections. The educator could show the photograph of each phase as it is introduced in the poem. Afterwards, students can read the poem again chorally.