Planets

Planets sets out to explain to anyone thinking of moving to another planet just why Earth is the best or rather only choice. We are taken on a whistle stop tour of the solar system to find out the reasons other planets would not be a suitable alternative, for example the sulphurous smoke on Venus and the lack of gravity on Mars. The spread on Jupiter deviates from this pattern focusing on the huge storm visible as a big red spot leaving the reader to infer the planet’s unsuitability. We are invited to return to Earth as the only planet to support life. Along the way we are also provided with some interesting information and very big numbers such as the speed the Earth is travelling around the sun and why you would only have a birthday once every 164.8 Earth years on Neptune.

This is a striking book with bold design and attractive illustrations, the spread depicting the diversity and richness of life on earth is particularly engaging. The premise is good, and the tone of the text is informal and friendly; the Earth is described as ‘hurtling’ around the sun. The illustrations add humour.

It is a pity that creating eye catching imagery seems to have driven the illustration decisions at the expense of a little more accuracy. For example, the illustration of the solar system could have depicted the relative size of the planets to each other and perhaps also have been labelled to help young space explorers. Also, it would have made more sense if Jupiter’s red spot had been painted red rather than black. Reference to Pluto seems to have been added as an afterthought on the disappointingly empty end papers.