The Sun Is Kind of a Big Deal

July 1, 2018

Gr 2-4-Replacing the standard stock photos typically found in books on celestial bodies, Seluk uses his comic-style illustrations and text to introduce the importance of the sun in our solar system. Seluk turns the sun and planets into silly characters with comical conversations. Talking bubbles, factoids, and upbeat informative text will have readers grinning. Each planet and the sun are given eyes, a mouth, and arms to hold various items. The sun wears sunglasses, Earth is its recognizable blue and green, and Mars is still red. Notes at the beginning let readers know that liberties have been taken with the sizes, though the information is otherwise accurate. The reason we have seasons, why the earth is warm at the equator and cold at the poles is covered, and how the sun plays a role in the water cycle and provides photosynthesis for plants are touched upon. End pages include a well-worded glossary, facts, and some tabloid news about various planets from the sun's perspective. Kids that know some information about the solar system will get the jokes. The silliness might be the trick to get students learning about the sun in a fun way. VERDICT An amusing treat for kids interested in space.-Sandra Welzenbach, Villarreal Elementary School, San Antonio

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 15, 2018
A humorous introduction to our sun and the solar system.Webcomic creator Seluk aquaints readers with the sun (sporting a sly grin and a cool pair of shades) and its position as both the literal and metaphorical star of the solar system. Readers are introduced to the planets' general relationships to the sun before diving deeper into the Earth's unique reliance on the sun: "It does a ton of important jobs for Earth. In fact, we wouldn't be around without the Sun!" The book explores everything from the effects of Earth's rotation on our planet's temperatures, daylight, and seasons to the water cycle and photosynthesis with clear and friendly prose. The planets' characterizations are silly and irreverent: Venus wears a visor, Saturn is a hula-hoop champ, and Jupiter desperately wants an autograph but pretends it's for one of its moons. Speech-bubble asides and simple but expressive faces and arm postures add to the celestial bodies' personalities. Bright colors, contrasting backgrounds, and bold lines are engaging but never overwhelming. Vocabulary words set in boldface are tied to a glossary in the back. Backmatter also includes a gossip-magazine-style spread ("Planets: They're Just Like Us!") and a "Did You Know" section that highlights ancient civilizations' beliefs about the sun.This charming star shines bright. (Informational picture book. 4-8)

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October 8, 2018
Comics artist and author Seluk (Heart and Brain) educates readers about the sun’s very important job. In bold, bright graphics, Seluk introduces the sun and planets looking a bit like chatty Gobstoppers. The sun’s star status is apparent, from its dark sunglasses to its fawning fans: “Could I have your autograph? It’s for, um, my moon, Callisto,” Jupiter requests. The sun gives light to Earth, provides warmth, and “helps bring us rain and grow plants to produce the oxygen we breathe,” Seluk explains. Using playful analogies, visual gags, and infographics, the author presents key concepts in astronomy: planets are seen moving around the sun on a racetrack, and another spread clearly shows how Earth’s temperatures range because of varying degrees of direct sunlight. It’s a playful, upbeat introduction to the galaxy, with a brief exploration of more distant planets and stars. Ages 4–8.

January 1, 2019
In this humorous presentation of solar system facts, the sun is a "star" (as in celebrity) surrounded by admiring planet "fans." The anthropomorphized planets, amusingly illustrated as cute emojis, joke their way through definitions that include day and night, the seasons, the water cycle, and photosynthesis. Additional facts and definitions are found on the closing endpapers. Glos.

(Copyright 2019 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)