I never thought I'd read two of my favorite genres in one book! A mixture of science and poetry, with fantastic illustrations. I recommend it to people who are interested in these two areas, but especially in science. Great for young adult too!!!

I thank NetGalley and Kids Can Press for providing me with a copy.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.

I very much enjoyed combining poetry with science. The description for both the subject of the next poem and the next poem's type was a nice way to lead into the poem. Our sister planet was my favorite and I will always remember Venus spins slowly the opposite way

As an elementary librarian I'm always on the look out for new poetry books. This little gem is an excellent addition to any library. It contains a versatile assortment of poems, quick information on the type/style of poem used, and information on the planet/star that the poem is about.

"A Planet is a Poem" is a delightful children's book that beautifully combines science and poetry. The book takes young readers on a journey through our solar system, exploring each planet through the lens of poetry. The illustrations are vibrant and captivating, bringing the planets to life in a way that is both educational and engaging.

The author does a wonderful job of weaving scientific facts about each planet into the poems, making learning about the solar system fun and accessible for young readers. The language is lyrical and evocative, encouraging children to see the beauty and wonder of the universe around them.

Overall, "A Planet is a Poem" is a charming and educational book that will inspire children to look up at the night sky with a sense of curiosity and awe. It is a great addition to any child's library and would make a fantastic gift for any young aspiring astronomer or poet.

This book manages to blend astrology with poetry and teach both subjects in a clear, concise and entertaining manner. Although young children enjoy a clever rhyming picture book, older students often find the study of poetry in school leaves them as cold as space. Kids who love literature often find science beyond their grasp. Amanda West Lewis has created a book that compares each unique planet to a style of poetry. One spread will give facts about a planet with explanations of the poetry style on the facing page. Then we read a poem about the planet in that poetry style. The factual science and literature lessons are concise and informative. But following those paragraphs by presenting the scientific information in a poem make both topics relatable. Oliver Averill' colorful illustrations are entrancing and help draw the reader into the scientific topic. Teachers will love this book for use in combined curriculum lessons. This book could be used as a resource for any age level. I requested a temporary review eBook from the publisher. However I can honestly recommend this book to any teacher or parent of a young scientist or poetry lover.

Absolutely beautifully illustrated this books introduces 2 wonderful topics in an innovative way. A Planet is a Poem ties the wonder of these galactic bodies in our solar system to the magical form of writing we call poetry, both topics that are bound to dazzle young and older readers alike.

Give me a picture book about poetry forms mixed with education on our solar system and I am in! What a delightful fusion of poetry and planetary science!

The author navigates the reader through the vastness of our solar system, intertwining factual astronomy with lessons in poetic forms, each scientific gem paired with its own unique poem! Bravo to this idea! From a Sonnet dedicated to the Solar System to an Ode in honor of the Sun (my favorite), this journey through the marvels of our planetary neighbors is such a treat. It’s not only for the science lover but a proficient source for the crafting of poetry. Concluding with a poetry activity in the back of the book along with a glossary of space terms and resources, it's definitely an educational treasure to say the least! Congratulations on this upcoming May 2024 release to the author #amandawestlewis and the breathtaking illustrations by #oliveraverill are nothing short of phenomenal. What a fabulous picture book to say the least.

I love it (!) and I was ecstatic to read this in my #NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher #kidscanpress

This is such a great combination of science and art. I plan on purchasing it for my nephew once it's released

I haven't been on #NetGalley in a while, and when I went, I stumbled upon the CUTEST of books. "A Planet Is a Poem" was written by Amanda West Lewis and illustrated by Oliver Averill.

["Science and poetry combine in an out-of-this-world exploration of the wonders of our solar system.

From a ballad of Earth and an ode to the sun to a villanelle for Venus and a sestina for Saturn, here are 14 original poems about planets and other bodies in our solar system. Each poem is written in a different poetic form that’s been chosen to reflect the object’s unique characteristics, and each is bursting with intriguing details sure to capture readers’ imaginations. Why is Mars known as the Red Planet? How many moons does Jupiter have? And what exactly is the Kuiper Belt? Budding astronomers, young and old, can find the answers to these questions and many more in this innovative, enchanting book.

Amanda West Lewis’s unique and engaging poems and text are lavishly illustrated with stunning artwork by Oliver Averill that celebrates the vastness of space while bringing its curious objects to vivid life. Every spread features a stunning space scene, a poem and a fold-out flap that, when opened, reveals easy-to-understand science facts about the object as well as an explanation of the poetic form used and why it was matched with that object. From sonnet, free verse and persona to prose, acrostic and hip-hop poems, there are 14 poetic forms to enjoy. With loads of curriculum connections in Earth science and language arts, this immersive and beautifully crafted book is a terrific choice for STEAM lesson plans. The back of the book contains a glossary, references, an activity, an illustration of our solar system and an index."]

This. Book. Was. Fabulous.

It was informative on planets and space and stars and that fast nothingness-everythingness that is the universe. It was also super informative on poetry, stanzas, styles, and famous poems/poets. Plus all those fabulous, colorful, expressive, explosive pictures?!?! Hell. Yes.

You have to go read this!! I got it as an ARC, but I might need to go buy the physical book (it debuts May 7, 2024).

#aplanetisapoem #amandawestlewis #oliveraverill #childrensnonfiction #steam #stem #poetry #sciencepoems #picturebooks #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

I loved this beautiful book! Such a perfect read aloud for Earth day. The lyrical text and creative illustrations make a perfect pair. I could imagine using it as a writing mentor text, or alongside geography/science lessons, to frame learning in a unique way.

Just in time National Poetry Month! 'A Planet is a Poem' features many poetic forms and pairs them with different parts of our solar system. I especially enjoy the Sonnet and Villanelle pieces to this book.

This work of poetry is great for those young learners who are beginning to gain an understanding of poetic form. I can see myself using this book with my students when I do my poetry workshops.

Thank you NetGalley and Kids Can Press for the gifted book!

The Universe in Verse is one of my favorite yearly events. It combines science and astronomy with poetry and the arts. This book captures the spirit of that event - which is the highest compliment. A Planet Is a Poem makes both art and science, poetry and astronomy, accessible without dampening any of the mystery. Thank you to Amanda West Lewis and Oliver Averill, Kids Can Press, and NetGalley for the eARC.

I love, love, love this children's book. I do realize that might not be the most professional review but it is the sort of enthusiasm this book inspires and encourages. Each section gives the reader scientific information on a celestial body and explains the structure of a different type of poetry. Then a poem is presented on the subject using the technique described. All accompanied by whimsical illustrations. The final section is an exercise for the reader to try their hand at writing a poem.

This is an excellent book for anyone wanting to teach their children about our solar system. Or about poetry. And for adults looking to recapture the awe and wonder we felt in childhood when we first discovered there was an entire universe out there, waiting to be discovered.

This book is an interesting fusion of poetry and astronomy. It teaches readers about the planets through the use of poetry and informational blurbs. And it also instructs readers in sundry poetic techniques—the formation and format of different styles of poetry—which are then illustrated through each planet-related poem.

A unique and clever learning resource.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for the ARC!

Ok this was the best kids book I’ve ever read. And I’m the assigned reader whenever my baby cousins come over, so I have read a lot of kids book. A Planet Is a Poem is a great way to teach kids about space, about poetry, and about the unlikely bond between these two things. I loved how much information there was about the planets & other space stuff that the poems were written about, and about the kinds of poems showed. The illustrations were also very pretty, I have no doubt a kid would fall in love with them. Tbh I think this is the kind of book kids get obsessed with, but parents probably wouldn’t get bored of either.

Interesting book that combines knowledge about space with poetry.. Never thought I'd see the day.
The unlikely pair does seem to work as the author alternates between providing information about the solar system and information about elements of poetry - followed by a poem of the topic that had just been discussed in the space information.
Very interesting and I guess, I can say it worked. The illustrations are wonderful as well and beautiful to look at.
The only question I had while reading this book was: what age demographic is this for? It's a children's book but the language and information is far too advanced to cater to children below the age of 9-10 years old. And once puberty hits around 13 years of age, this book will have lost it's value for most. So I would assume it's for that small 2 year gap between 10-12. But then the question becomes: what child has a fascination with both space and poetry to the degree that this book while capture their interest?

Overall, it's is a nice picture book and I have little bad to say about it. Although I'd have prefered the language being simplified to cater to a larger age demographic.

This is science mixed with poetry, even though I'm not a science type of girl. I really enjoyed this one and wished it were much longer. I will definitely look forward to reading more poems like this.

Also, the illustrations were so beautiful.

!!𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 & 𝗞𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 & 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗔𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝘄𝗶𝘀, 𝗢𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗰 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄!!

"A Planet is a Poem" does a nice job of using a variety of poetic forms to express facts about the planets in our solar system. Some of the poems are more sophisticated than others, one assumes to broaden the range and increase the chances that every reader should be able to find at least one that appeals. (I particularly liked the hip-hop.)

The nonfiction text teaching poetry is balanced quite nicely with the poetic content. It's presented more thoroughly than is often seen for this age, but clearly so that most of the intended audience will feel more empowered than intimidated. Not so much a "how-to-write" as a "know what you're reading" volume doing the additional task of demonstrating science through art. Nicely done.

This book will teach young ones about both poetry and space! I love the format and the images are gorgeous!

My interests and space and poetry are similar: transient, yet somehow a vibrant thread in the tapestry that is my life. While I briefly considered a career in NASA mission control after my stint at Space Camp, I was always going to be a musician, so these days, I can’t spend much time learning about the galaxy. Poetry comes to me in seasons, but my own personal climate must be changing, because the place where poetry resides in my mind has been barren for a while now.

Still, I find my own way to incorporate these subjects into my life, the most recent being a story structured around Holst’s “The Planets”, a musical work that features movements titled after and inspired by the planets. Quick flourishes bouncing around the orchestra create a perfect image of the speedy Mercury, an ethereal curtain of strings mimics the seemingly placid surface of Neptune, and ominous, insistent rhythms paint a picture of the red planet, troops preparing for battle. How much more do we know now than when Holst penned his space-inspired work? How will that knowledge inform the way we create art about the planets? I saw the beginnings of an answer in my own creative process, but that was just the start.


So naturally, when I saw the title, “A Planet is a Poem,” I was immediately interested. I LOVE this book. I’m 23 years old, and I want a physical copy to pore over immediately. The book is the perfect combination of ingredients that few have thought to combine: for each celestial body included, you’ll find a fact sheet, a description of the poetic form, the poem itself, and artwork to bring it all together. As I reintroduced myself to the types of poems this book included, I was brought back to the creative writing and English classes of my childhood, where I worked to assemble the perfect poem according to the formula each form required. Free verse has always been my favorite kind of poem to write, but the rest of these forms feel like old friends. Maybe “A Planet is a Poem” will be what brings life back to that part of my creative world. I can start by writing about Planet X, as the book suggests. After all, it’s the things we can’t quite pin down that beg for our attempts to solidify them in words.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to access this book in exchange for an honest review!

This is a little, cute book with wisdom and rhythm.
This is science and poetry together. Learn about the planets and also learn about some poetic tools.
Do you know what a ‘cinquain’ is? its a poem written using a specific number of syllables. Five lines. Only a few words, like a haiku. What if two ‘cinquains’ are put together? What’ll you call it? Then learn something, not only about planets but also about ‘paired dwarves’ and ‘Kuiper belt’. Earth and Mars are similar in geography. Volcanoes, canyons, polar ice-caps, and impact craters are similar. They both have seasons, and their days are also of the same length.

This book has colourful illustrations, scientific knowledge, and poetic charm all together. You can gift this book to your kids or younger ones. It will not matter if your kid wants to become an astronaut or a poet once he grows up; it can help with both ambitions. And you can also sing some poems to your grandparents. It will work for all.

Here are four random stanzas from a ‘villanelle on Venus’, poem,

“Venus spins slowly the opposite way,

Earth-like in size, air hazy with Sulphur.

The bright light we see at the start of the day.

Her Sky is Deep orange, her Rocks are dark Grey,

Volcanoes pour lava on mountains and craters

Venus spins slowly the opposite way.

covered in clouds that reflects the sun’s rays

storm – lighting flashes through layer on layer

the bright light we see at the end of the day.

Sunrise in the West, months pass in a day.

Her axis is straight- no seasons to savor

Venus spins slowly the opposite way.”

The book is written for a specific audience: young people and educators. A general reader can also gain knowledge about the solar system around us with the help of ballads, acrostic poems, sonnets, etc. It was fun reading. I recommend it for the purpose mentioned.

I thank NetGalley and ‘Kids Can Press’ for providing me a copy.

The thoughts on this book are also posted on Goodreads and on the following site:

https://bookbrooder.com/2024/03/01/when-planets-sing-their-own-poem/