What is the solar system? It is our Sun and everything that travels around it. Our solar system is elliptical in shape and is always in motion. The Sun is in the center of the solar system.  Nine known planets and their moons, along with comets, asteroids, and other space objects orbit the Sun. The Sun is the biggest object in our solar system. It contains more than 99% of the solar system's mass. Astronomers think the solar system is more than 4 billion years old.

Here is just a small amount of information on the solar system. I chose the Solar System for my topic because there is so much that students do not know about and there is so much information out there for them to learn about. Children seem to be interested and enthusiastic when talking about the vast darkness that appears at night. It is an interesting topic that students love to gain information about. It is hard for children to look up at the night sky and have the concept that there is so much more than stars in the sky. Planets, galaxies, and maybe even aliens exist in the black sea we call the sky. 

Students can enjoy an array of informational book as well as a number of picture books, and chapter books that they can read for pleasure.  Below are a list of books that relate to the solar system. There are different genres included in the bibliography as well as books that are appropriate for different age levels. The purpose of this bibliography is to assist educators, parents, and students learn more about the solar system and how it works, as well as read text for pleasure about the universe. 

Barner, B. (2002). Stars! Stars! Stars! San Francisco: Chronicle Books.

This book is a simple rhyming book that describes stars and the planets of our solar system.
I thought this was an appropriate book to use for younger grades, early primary/primary.
 

McNaughton, C. (1995). Here Come The Aliens. :Massachusetts Candlewick Press.

A group of not so nice aliens speed toward Earth looking for a fight. The aliens are just about to reach Earth when a piece of paper floats by them. On the paper was a picture of children, which scared the aliens away.

I thought this was a good book to add to this site because there are a lot of rhyming words in the text. Also the text describes the aliens and their characteristics in great detail.
 

McPhail, D. (1998). Tinker and Tom and the Star Baby. Canada: Little, Brown & Company.

Tinker and Tom can't get to sleep one night so they gaze out the window and see something had landed in their yard. They discover a Star Baby who has fallen from the sky and is looking for its mother. Tinker and Tom fix the Star Baby's space ship and send the baby back home where she reunites with her mother.

I choose this book because students can read this book and get a message about helping other in need. The illustrations in this book also show a space ship, which can give children an idea of what space ships look like. It is a humorous story that students will enjoy.
 

Sadler, M. (1984). Alistair in Outer Space. New York: Simon & Shuster.

A sensible young boy named Alistair is walking to the library one day to return his books when a spacecraft, with creatures who call themselves Goots, abduct him. The Goots liked Alistair and wanted to take him back to their home. Throughout the book Alistair is worried about returning his books back to the library on time. The Goots were not good with directions but they finally returned Alistair back to Earth in a comical ending.

I choose this book because it was a cute story where children can relate to because it talks about a young boy and his adventure while returning his books back to the library. The illustrations in this book gives students an idea of what the illustrator thinks spacecraft look like.
 

Yolan, J. (1999). Moonball. New York: Simon & Shuster.

Danny always seems to strike out of games. After his game one night, he lay in his bead thinking about all the times he struck out and all of a sudden he finds himself flying out his bedroom window to play baseball with the stars. Danny played with the star constellations and ends up hitting a home run, and round up to third base when her wakes up in the comfort of his own bed.
This book relates to the theme of the Solar System. I choose this book because it involves a real life situation that students can relate to.  It also introduces to the students that the stars make up constellations.

Rosen, S. (1992). Which Way to the Milky Way?. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books, Inc.

This book is an informative book that gives questions and answers about the Milky Way. It introduces bold printed words that are new to students.

I choose this book because the media of the illustrations are both cartoons and pictures. It gives great example for children to relate to in order for them to understand the concepts presented in the book.

Simon, S. (1991). Space Words: A Dictionary. Harper Collins Publishers.

This book defines words and terms commonly used in discussing about space.

I thought this was a useful book because while learning about space in the classroom, students could use this book and look up words they were unsure of the meaning. The definitions given are written in a way that students will understand. Appropriate for grades at a junior high level.
 
 

Korean Folk Tales

Mi-ae, L. (1997). The Two Love Stars: The Story of Kyonu and Chingnyo. Korea: Borim  
    Publishing Company.     

This story is about two love stars that are married and are inseparable. Both Kyonu and Chingnyo forget about plowing the fields and weaving clothes. The King became upset and sent Kyonu to the live in the eastern kingdom and Chingnyo to live in the western kingdom. On the seventh day and the seventh month of the year the two unite with one another but when it is time for them to leave one another they cry, flooding the earth below.

This Korean legend is a good one to introduce to children. It shows why the Koreans believe it rains on the seventh day on the seventh month. It ties into the theme of the Solar System because it mentions stars.
 
 

Zemlicka, S. ( 2003).  Neil Armstrong. Minneapolis: Lerner Publications.

An introduction to the life of Neil Armstrong. Discusses his life as a young boy and how he came to be the first man on the moon.

I choose this book because I think that it is important for students to learn about space travel and accomplished made by individuals, especially the first man on the moon. Easy for students to read and comprehend.

Camp, A. (1996). American Astronomers: Searches and Wonders. Enslow Publishers.

This book is a collection of biographies on a number of astronomers.

Stars are a major part of the solar system. I think this book is important to add to the bibliography because astronomers study the stars. Without astronomers, we would not know as much as we do about the stars.
 
 

Corville, B. (1989). My Teacher is an Alien. New York: Pocket Books.

This book is about a substitute teacher who seems to be quite different. The students find out that Mr. Smith is really an alien when they see him peeling off his face. The students have to act fast before Mr. Smith goes through with his horrible plans.

This book deals with the solar system because its theme is extraterrestrial life on earth. It is a fun book for students to get lost in.

Corville, B. (1992). My Teacher Flunked The Planet. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks.

A seventh grade boy is touring the planet with friends and aliens who are in disguise. The aliens’ mission is to make a final report of what Earth’s future plans will be.

This is another book which talks about aliens, relating to the Solar System. Students will enjoy reading these books because they are fiction and an easy read.

Corville, B. (1993). Aliens Ate My Homework. New York: Pocket Books.

Rod Allbright is an honest student. When his teacher asks why he does not have his homework, he tells her the truth that aliens ate his homework. Nobody believes Rod which is just as well.

This story is an adventure that students will sink right into. Again the theme of the book is aliens, relating to the solar system.

Gauthier, G. (1999). Club Earth. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons.

The Denis family is joined at their dinner table by aliens. Will and Robby Dennis have seen their share of aliens over the past year. The only question left is who will clean up after the dinner guests.

This novel relates to the Solar System because it talks about aliens. Children will love to read this book because they will think about having alien dinner guests and put themselves in the story.

Hoover, H.M. (1995). The Winds of Mars. New York: Dutton Children’s Books.

When rebel forces strike against her father, the powerful president of Mars, teenage Annalyn finds her comfortable existence turned upside down and her life threatened from unexpected outside forces.

This book is full of adventure. Here we see a story taking place on the planet Mars, rather than the story taking place on Earth with extraterrestrial visitors.
 
 

Lima, C., & Lima, J. (2001). A to Zoo (6th ed). West Port: Bowker-Greenwood.

Gillespie, J. (2002). Best Books for Children (7th ed.). Westport: Bowker-Greenwood.

These two resourse books were helpful in finding books to use for this project. Both books were divided into subject and authors. It made it easy to find resources for the theme, The Solar System.
 
 

Solar System Simulator
* This website is a great one to use to view images from space from a specific location. Great images!