Volume II Number 2
October 27, 1995

image The Sun.

Paulette Bourgeois. Illustrated by Bill Slavin.
Toronto: Kids Can Press, 1995. 40pp, cloth, $14.95.
ISBN 1-55074-158-6.

Subject Headings:
Sun-Juvenile literature.
Sun-Experiments-Juvenile literature.

Grades 2 - 5 / Ages 7 - 10.
Review by Harriet Zaidman.

excerpt:

What is a solstice?

A solstice is one of the two times of the year when the Sun is farthest from Earth's equator. One solstice takes place around December 21 and, north of the equator it's known as the winter solstice. The other solstice happens around June 21 and is called the summer solstice in the Northern hemisphere.

image The Sun is a well-written science book for children by the author of both the "Franklin" (the turtle) series and other science titles: The Amazing Potato Book, The Amazing Apple Book, and The Amazing Paper Book. The Sun is part of a series called `Starting with Space' (which also includes The Moon).

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A good nonfiction book has well-organized information that lets you find what you want to know quickly and easily. The table of contents in The Sun includes all the subheadings, and the glossary and index are also thorough. The subheadings in each chapter are self-explanatory -- there is no hunting for information. The writing is appropriate for a children ranging from grades two to five; the language is not complicated, but explains scientific terms clearly without being simplistic. The book covers the subject of the sun thoroughly, including a legend about the sun, the origins of the sun and its dimensions and make-up, and information about the seasons and the solstices, eclipses, rainbows and UV rays, and energy and solar power. Each chapter includes appropriate scientific experiments, and little titbits of information pop up in Sun stuff boxes. Safety with the sun is emphasized everywhere.

The book is laid-out in short sections with -- illuminating -- illustrations. Illustrator Bill Slavin has made good use of sunny yellow on the cover and as a frame for the Try It! experiment pages, and of course, wherever Mr. Sun himself appears. The illustrations match the text very well, and show children engaging in activities. The pastel colours used are easy on the eye. An interesting addition to the illustrations are photographs of eclipses, prisms, sunrises, etc., which perfectly complement the text and drawings.

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The Sun would be a welcome edition to a science collection in an elementary library.

Highly recommended.

Harriet Zaidman is a Winnipeg teacher/librarian.

image image Copyright © 1995 the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364

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