Poetry Friday: Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars (by Douglas Florian):

Comets, Stars, the Moon, and Mars (by Douglas Florian):

As with many of Florian’s other books, this space-themed collection incorporates science facts with the  rhyme, rhythm, and imagery of poetry.  The illustrations are a wonderful blend of painting, collage, text, and simple die cut shapes.  The collection begins with general poems about the universe and our solar system.  Next, each planet has its own poem.  Other space elements are covered, such as moon, comets, constellations, black holes, and the great beyond.   The “galactic glossary” explains in prose format, that both compliments and expands the poems, more about each of the objects. 

This collection is ideal for educators and parents teaching about the solar system.   Children get a fun introduction or reinforcement of facts.   They can be challenged to create their own space poems using information that an adult provided or that the children researched.  The illustrations could be used as a spring board for child-created painting/collage depictions of our solar system.   For other solar system books and activities, visit my Pinterest collection. 

“Venus”

Scalding-hot surface,

Nine hundred degrees.

Nothing can live there,

No creatures,

No tree.

Poisonous clouds

Of acid above.

Why was it named for

The goddess of love?

“The Comet”

Ice, rock, dirt,

Metal and gas—

Around the sun

A comet may pass.

A dirty snowball

Of space debris.

The biggest snowball

That you’ll ever see.

Check out other great poems and poetry anthologies at Random Noodling in honor of Poetry Friday.