Grade 3-4-Brief but meaty introductions to the outer planets, combining seldom-seen color photos with single-page "chapters" of text. Though sometimes oversimplified, the information is a lively mix of basic facts, nonstandard background material, and recent discoveries about each planet's rings, atmosphere, physical features, and selected moons. Special terms are defined in appended glossaries, and generally in context, too; sizes, revolution and rotation periods, and distances are given both in the narrative and in accompanying charts. Each volume closes with an easily reproduced science demonstration, plus two-to-four-item lists of books, addresses, and Web sites. Though the photos have a cramped, over-enlarged look-probably due to the books' small trim size-such shots as a radiophotograph of Jupiter showing its massive magnetic fields and Hubble Space Telescope views of Pluto before and after computer enhancement will grab the attention of young space enthusiasts.
