"Our Earth is part of a fascinating planetary family: eight planets and an odd bunch of other solar system bodies that spin, roll, tilt, blow and whirl around the Sun. Here, to the tune of 'Over in the Meadow,' young ones can get a glimpse of our remarkable neighborhood"--Provided by publisher.

This tour through our solar system describes how it would feel to be on the surface of each of the nine planets, as well as the sun, an asteroid, and a comet.

"We have the impression that the solar system is perfectly regular like a clock, or a planetarium instrument. On a short timescale it is. But, seen in a longer perspective, the planets, and their satellites, have exciting lives, full of events - for example, did you know that Saturn's moon, Titan, boasts lakes which contain liquid methane surrounded by soaring hills and valleys, exactly as the earth did before life evolved on our fragile planet? Or...

An in depth guide to Earth's planetary neighborhood.

The third planet from the Sun, Earth is the only planet known to support life. Nicknamed the "Blue Planet," Earth has a unique mix of air, water, and land unlike anything else scientists have seen on other planets.

Readers will find out about the other planets that scientists have discovered through accessible text, fact boxes, and photographs. They will be introduced to scientific tools including the Kepler telescope, which has assisted in locating many planets outside of our solar system.

Looks at all the major players, including our more familiar neighbors--the Sun, the planets, and their moons--the occasional visitors to our planet--asteroids, meteors and comets--as well as distant stars and what might be beyond our solar system.