The Secrets of Saturn

by Kassandra Radomski

Overview

Saturn’s stunning rings make it the easiest planet to recognize, but it still has secrets!  From ancient cultures that watched the skies, to modern scientists who send machines into space, humans are passionately curious about the gas giant.  Learn about Saturn's discovery, what it would be like to visit, and what scientists still want to know.  Vivid photos and illustrations, scientist spotlights, and sidebars help unlock the secrets of Saturn.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781491458686
Publisher:	Capstone Press
Publication date:	08/01/2015
Series:	Planets
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	7.75(w) x 8.75(h) x 0.38(d)
Age Range:	8 - 10 Years

About the Author

Kassandra (Kassi) Radomski is a freelance writer and editor. She writes articles and books for children on a variety of topics, but she especially enjoys digging into historical events and bringing them to life. Her books, Mr. Madison’s War: Causes and Effects of the War of 1812 and The Apollo 13 Mission: Core Events of a Crisis in Space were published in 2013. Kassi lives in Madison, Wisconsin with her family.

Table of Contents

Secretive Saturn — Ancient beliefs — A planet with "handles" — The gas giant — Weather far from the Sun — Mysterious weather patterns — Stunning rings — First missions to Saturn — Exploring the dark Moon Titan — Exploring the bright Moon Enceladus — Seeking answers — What will scientists find next?

Interviews

Covers Next Generation Science Standards related to stars and the solar system Covers topography, atmosphere, weather for terrestrial planets, gas and ice giants, and dwarf planets Integrates the human aspect of space exploration Info-graphics and timelines Smithsonian brand Fun feature that repeats through the series: If I were standing on the planet; How long is a school day on the planet

Editorial Reviews

11/01/2015
Gr 2–4—A visually strong exploration of the eight planets in the solar system. Filled with "Fast Facts," including the planet's diameter, distance from the sun, number of moons, and other relevant details, as well as short, readable sentences, each volume supports Next Generation Science Standards. The inclusion of "Critical Thinking Using the Common Core" at the end of the book will appeal to educators, administrators, and parents and will provide students with an opportunity to articulate and analyze what they've read. Readers are also introduced to the people who study the planets in each book's "Scientist Spotlight." The images of the night sky are stunning, but while the artists' illustrations of planetary scenes are beautiful, their inclusion weakens the authenticity. A minor error appears in The Secrets of Saturn, when the author claims that the "fastest winds on Earth occur during hurricanes," when, in fact, it's tornadoes that are responsible. VERDICT Although attractive, this series doesn't improve on extant series.

School Library Journal

...particularly good, with up-to-date science and exploration sections. . . .All the books featured one current scientist (the list includes Louise Prockter, Adriana Ocampo, Mark Bordreaux, Ashwin Vasavada, Steve Vance, Carolyn Porco, Leigh Fletcher, and Heidi Hammel, respectively), and all have a closing page talking about questions for future exploration missions.

Planetary Society

From early human observations of lights in the sky, to past and future research missions, they’ll uncover many secrets about our celestial neighborhood. Comparisons to Earth, fact boxes, maps, and captions all combine to aid understanding. These books support Next Generation science standards, and the Smithsonian’s seal of approval guarantees excellence of this nonfiction set.

Lunar and Planetary Information Bulletin

These books for second through fourth graders include basic facts about planets in our solar system, accompanied by excellent images from the latest planetary explorations. Additional considerations of “secrets” — the unknowns and puzzles that guide current scientific inquiry — illustrate the constantly changing understanding of astronomers, both historical and present-day.

Nonfiction Notes from the Horn Book