PLANET WORK
From the Montessori series
by Bobby George & June George ; illustrated by Alyssa Nassner
A planet-by-planet exploration of the solar system.
Starting with the sun, the journey begins at the center and moves out. Each of the eight planets is featured on a double-page spread with a clear, centered image, two to three facts, and a horizontal panel at the bottom with a you-are-here arrow putting all the planets in context. The planetary facts shared are simple and direct: “Earth is our home! It is the only known planet to support life.” An almost-too-subtle tactile element that looks to be a thin and shiny plastic coating is added to the outside edge of the planet’s image so little fingers can trace it. The Montessori-inspired goal of the project is to focus on the concrete before the abstract. How that comes into play here is not clear, but graphically clean simplicity, from the sans-serif font to the natural-looking faux wood backgrounds, seems to be the driver. Unfortunately, placing the planets so they straddle the book’s gutter warps both the clarity of Nassner’s images and the tactile experience. While the planets are not presented in their true proportions, a concluding double gatefold that opens to reveal the solar system in toto is a helpful addition.
Accessible, uncluttered, and refreshingly direct.
(Board book. 2-5)