This is a graphic novel. The premise is that one kid is home sick and bored. Her friend comes by with a book about the solar system, so they invent a spaceship (with their pets as the fictional crew) to travel throughout the solar system – to the sun, then to all the planets and “belts” in between them and slightly beyond, where they learn about where they are visiting.

This is aimed toward kids, but I learned some stuff about the solar system, as well. I really enjoyed this. The pets as crew was kind of silly, but likely appealing to kids. I liked that there was a summary at the end of each planetary visit to explain some of the things learned. I also liked that they stopped at Pluto, even though it is no longer considered a planet. And I also enjoyed learning about a few of the planets’ moons. It was unfortunate temperatures were only in Fahrenheit, however. The illustrator did a really nice job, as well; the illustrations are all in colour. ( )

Discover the wonders of Science Comics as you embark on an exciting journey through the vast expanse of the universe, from the mysteries hidden in the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space. Get an up-close and personal look at our neighboring planets, such as Venus with its acid rainstorms, Saturn and its magnificent icy rings, and the blazing heart of our solar system, the Sun. The human fascination with outer space continues to grow as we uncover new and fascinating information about our solar system with each passing day. ( )

The Science Comics series cleverly uses Socratic dialogue to teach comics-loving kids about scientific topics. Both of these books employ (usually) animal characters with well-drawn personalities asking questions and talking (or arguing) among themselves to propel the reader through an incredible quantity of facts. I love the device of a multi-party conversation because different readers may identify with different characters -- the know-it-all, or the quiet one, or the nervous one, or the bold one -- and keep reading to see how the argument resolves. Of the two, Solar System weights story more heavily, traversing the solar system, while Rockets is more of an argument among the characters that traverses the history of rocket technology. Both are fun. (Full disclosure: I wrote the introduction to Rockets and fact-checked Solar System.) ( )

This is a great graphic novel to interest middle grade students in the Solar System. Sara is home sick from school and she is bored. Her friend Jill comes to visit and brings the book she has been reading called "Solar Systems." Using the book and her imaginations, she takes Sara on a trip through the Solar System on the ship called the Unbored. The crew on the ship are Sara's dog, and hamster and Jill's cat and snake. As they travel from the sun to the outer reaches of the solar system, they learn about each planet and the moons. They have to solve some problems and write short reports after each stop. It is a fun way to learn about the solar system and could be a starting point for further research into any of the things the ship encounters along the way. There are some great illustrations mixed in with the cartoon ones. A great addition to any school or class library. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley. ( )