Review by Booklist Review
Wells elaborates on the idea that our planet is a pretty good place for people to live by, first, giving each of the other seven planets a quick flyby, then explaining how Earth's water and atmosphere create conditions suitable for life. His lively cartoon illustrations feature a pair of overall-clad young explorers (and a spaniel) boarding a jalopy-like spaceship for their spin around the solar system, then landing back on their home planet to demonstrate recycling, energy conservation, and other environmentally friendly activities. Closing with a Peaceable Kingdom scene, this sends a clear but not heavy message to younger readers about how lucky we are to have such a home, and how important it is to keep it in good condition. The pictures, the brief text, and the specific but digestible details will pull in Gail Gibbons fans.--Peters, John Copyright 2009 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2-Wells's signature style is exhibited in his cartoon illustrations and conversational text. Readers follow two boys and their dog as they are taken from Earth on a trip to the other seven planets in a spacecraft that's fast enough to give a quick tour. At each stop the narrator explains why humans could not live there. The characters are promptly returned to Earth, and the book explains why it's the only planet that is just right for humans. Each page is filled with acrylic-and-pen illustrations and plenty of text but the title is not as overwhelming as it may first appear. Useful as an introduction to planet research, the book will work as a read-aloud or for independent reading.-Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio, TX (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
Two youngsters, their dog, and a monkey pilot journey through the solar system, discovering facts about each planet, such as diameter, distance from the sun, and number of moons. Wells's playfully informative pen and acrylic illustrations support the premise that there's no place like home--and we should protect that place. Copyright 2010 of The Horn Book, Inc. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Wells explores the characteristics that make Earth capable of sustaining life. Beginning with an imaginary journey through the solar system, a boy and a girl visit the other seven planets and see firsthand why they are uninhabitable, learning some facts about each along the way. Earth is special because of its distance from the sun, atmosphere and water. The final few pages discuss ways that humans have not always taken care of these valuable resources and how they can be conserved. While the overall text has an offhand, casual manner, the backmatter includes several paragraphs that will get readers to think more deeply about some of the subjects raised, such as the planets' differing orbits and the possibility of finding another planet like ours somewhere in the universe. The pen-and-acrylic illustrations suit the informal tone of the text and feature a cartoon boy and girl being piloted around the solar system by a monkey. Those toward the back get more serious as they promote a conservation message. A good beginning look at the special features that make Earth our home. (Informational picture book. 5-9) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
