Space Station Mars

Module 2, SLIS 5420

Summary

The boys from Oak Hills become keen on things extraterrestrial after seeing the movie Invaders from Mars. They share ideas on the existence of space aliens, shooting stars and meteorites. They uncover a rock they believe is a meteorite in a neighbors yard and enlist the help of a new boy visiting for the summer, Neil. Neil is a budding scientist and he subjects the rock to chemical tests, determining that it originated on Mars. The boys' excitement is palpable and they turn their clubhouse into Space Station Mars using Neils telescope and star charts to comb the night sky for evidence that We Are Not Alone. After overhearing a conversation about a strange new structure spotted nearby, the boys investigate and conclude it must be a spaceship from Mars. They decide to return the meteorite from Mars as a gesture of goodwill between neighboring planets. They hand to rock over to the "aliens" they meet and run away, mission accomplished.

Bibliographic Information

San Souci, Daniel. Space Station Mars. Tricycle Press, 2005. ISBN: 1-58246-142-2

My Thoughts

This book will definitely appeal to young boys. The sense of adventure shared with old and new friends is contagious, with the boys eager to explore and learn about things from other worlds. The book depicts the boys as industrious, redecorating the clubhouse themselves as they transform it into Space Station Mars. They are independent, relying on themselves (for good or bad) for information about the world beyond. And of course, they are completely wrong about the alien spaceship. It is actually a new water tower and the two painters (aliens) they encounter with respirators and paint guns are confused by the gift of the rock. It is a funny ending to an interesting story and the reader will be eager to read other books in the publisher's Clubhouse Book series. The artwork is colorful and realistic, setting the story sometime in the late 1950s or early 1960s. The "scientist" Neil is unfortunately depicted stereotypically, with thick glasses and labcoat as are the pictures of aliens with green skin and bulbous eyes, but then, that is what you would expect from a story about that period in time. The author includes information about the inspiration for the story, including a photograph of the real water tower, at the end. The books also depicts Neil as writing a letter to the group in code after going back home at the end of summer. The reader is given the key to decript the code and is encouraged to visit a Web site for further activities related to the series of books, all of which are nice follow-up touches that help the curious reader learn more and engage enthusiasm.

Reviews

Gr 1-4 - The boys from The Dangerous Snake and Reptile Club (Tricycle, 2004) are back. After watching a movie about space aliens, the kids are convinced that a rock found in their neighbor's backyard is really a meteor from Mars. They quickly transform their clubhouse int Space Station Mars. Luckily, Neil is an expert on extraterrestrials. He uses his chemistry set to test the meteor for radioactivity and monitors intergalactic communication with his crystal radio. When he picks up strange transmissions, the club members are convinced that the Martians who lost the meteor are on their way back to reclaim it. They find the "alien spaceship" and return the rock to "alien visitors." This book captures the wonderful time in children's lives when the line between reality and imagination is blurred. The boys are able to have great adventures because they believe in what they are playing. The bright cartoon illustrations, which are chock-full of detail and activity, increase the sense of fun. This is a great choice for independent reading or sharing aloud.

Cardon, Donna. School Library Journal. October 1, 2005.

Awards

Blue Hen Book Award, Delaware: Picture Book

Suggestions for Use in Library

This would be a wonderful book to spark discussion about falling stars and meteorites. The book also includes information about the popularity of crystal radio sets made using simple materials. If a science teacher or librarian can still find such materials, putting together a crystal radio would make an interesting related activity. Also, a teacher or librarian could introduce children to a real, working telescope.