Season 9 - Episodes 7 & 8 - A Mars Adventure

A Mars Adventure

Join Lauren and the Reading Bug on an out-of-this-world adventure, all the way to the planet Mars!  Alongside our favorite astronaut friend, Elara Paige, explore the surface of the red planet and learn all about space travel and outer space.

Books Mentioned in this Podcast

Fiction: 
Sadiq and the Desert Star By Siman Nuurali, Anjan Sarkar (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Siman Nuurali, Anjan Sarkar (Illustrator)
$6.95
ISBN: 9781515845652
Availability: On Our Store Shelves Now
Published: Picture Window Books - August 1st, 2019

When Sadiq's father leaves on a business trip, he worries he'll miss his baba too much. But Baba has a story for Sadiq: the story of the Desert Star. Learning about Baba's passion for the stars sparks Sadiq's interest in outer space. But can Sadiq find others who are willing to help him start the space club of his dreams?


Skippyjon Jones, Lost in Spice By Judy Schachner, Judy Schachner (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Judy Schachner, Judy Schachner (Illustrator)
$17.99
ISBN: 9780525479659
Availability: On Our Store Shelves Now
Published: Dutton Books for Young Readers - September 22nd, 2009

That’s right, spice. Skippy knows— from his big ears to his toes—that the planet Mars is red because it’s covered in spicy red pepper. To prove it, he’s off on a space jaunt replete with craters, crazies, and creatures from Mars. His new adventure is packed with witty wordplay, Spanish phrases, and Judy Schachner’s trademark hilarity. This rollicking romp is simply out of this world.


Mousetronaut Goes to Mars (The Mousetronaut Series) By Mark Kelly, C. F. Payne (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Mark Kelly, C. F. Payne (Illustrator)
$19.99
ISBN: 9781442484269
Availability: In Our Warehouse - Expected arrival in 2-5 days
Published: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books - October 1st, 2013

Meteor the mousetronaut returns to outer space in this exciting story from #1 New York Times bestselling author and retired NASA astronaut Commander Mark Kelly and renowned illustrator C.F. Payne.
3-2-1…blast off! The smallest member of the team, a mouse named Meteor, is back on board and ready to come to the rescue on an interplanetary adventure! With lively illustrations by award-winning artist C.F. Payne, this charming new mousetronaut adventure will inspire imaginations of all sizes! Includes detailed scientific back matter.


The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System By Joanna Cole, Bruce Degen (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Joanna Cole, Bruce Degen (Illustrator)
$7.99
ISBN: 9780590414296
Availability: On Our Store Shelves Now
Published: Scholastic Press - February 1st, 1992

The fieldtrip to the planetarium is foiled when the museum turns out to be closed, but Ms. Frizzle saves the day. The Magic School Bus turns into a spaceship and takes the class on a trip zooming through the atmosphere, to the Moon, and beyond! With up-to-date facts about the solar system, revised for this edition.Don't miss the all-new Magic School Bus: Rides Again book series and the animated show streaming on Netflix now!


The Truth About Martians By Melissa Savage Cover Image
$7.99
ISBN: 9781524700195
Availability: In Our Warehouse - Expected arrival in 2-5 days
Published: Yearling - January 14th, 2020

Mylo never really believed in Martians, unless they had a starring role in one of his comic books. But then a flying saucer crash-lands next to his Roswell, New Mexico, ranch, and he starts to hear voices--like someone is asking for his help. With his best friend Dibs and crush Gracie by his side, and his Cracker Jack superhero membership card in his pocket, Mylo sets out on an epic adventure to investigate the crash and find the Martians. But he and his friends end up discovering more about the universe than they ever could have imagined.


Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot vs. the Voodoo Vultures from Venus By Dav Pilkey Cover Image
$17.25
Email or call for price.
ISBN: 9780606358019
Published: Turtleback Books - April 29th, 2014

From Dav Pilkey, creator of Captain Underpants, and acclaimed artist Dan Santat, an out-of-this-world friendship adventure with all-new full-color illustrations Ever wish you had a flying Robot for a best friend? Wouldn't it be great to have a Robot so big and powerful that nobody would ever mess with you again? Friendly Robots can be fun But with giant friends come giant responsibilities. In this book, the evil Victor Von Vulture and his army of Voodoo Vultures from Venus are about to take over planet Earth. Only the super-smart tricks of Ricky and his Mighty Robot can send the bad guys packing for home.


The Lion of Mars By Jennifer L. Holm Cover Image
$8.99
ISBN: 9780593121849
Availability: On Our Store Shelves Now
Published: Yearling - May 31st, 2022

Life on Mars is pretty standard…. until a mysterious virus hits. Don’t miss this timely and unputdownable novel from the bestselling author of The Fourteenth Goldfish. Bell has spent his whole life--all eleven years of it--on Mars. But he's still just a regular kid--he loves cats and any kind of cake, and is curious about the secrets the adults in the US colony are keeping. Like, why don't they have contact with anyone on the other Mars colonies? Why are they so isolated? When a virus breaks out and the grown-ups all fall ill, Bell and the other children are the only ones who can help. It's up to Bell--a regular kid in a very different world--to uncover the truth and save his family...and possibly unite an entire planet.


Secret Agent Jack Stalwart: Book 9: The Deadly Race to Space: Russia (The Secret Agent Jack Stalwart Series #9) By Elizabeth Singer Hunt Cover Image
$5.99
ISBN: 9781602860780
Availability: On Our Store Shelves Now
Published: Running Press Kids - April 7th, 2009

Destination: Russia. On the eve of the first manned mission to Mars, Secret agent Jack Stalwart learns that the mission's chief rocket engineer has disappeared. When he finds out that engineer is his father, Jack vows the kidnapper will live to regret it. Can Jack keep his cool to save the day?


Non-Fiction: 
Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race By Margot Lee Shetterly, Laura Freeman (Illustrator) Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780062742469
Availability: On Our Store Shelves Now
Published: HarperCollins - January 16th, 2018

Based on the New York Times bestselling book and the Academy Award–nominated movie, author Margot Lee Shetterly and Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Award winner Laura Freeman bring the incredibly inspiring true story of four black women who helped NASA launch men into space to picture book readers!


Outer Space (Ken Jennings’ Junior Genius Guides) By Ken Jennings, Mike Lowery (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Ken Jennings, Mike Lowery (Illustrator)
$9.99
ISBN: 9781481401708
Availability: On Our Store Shelves Now
Published: Little Simon - October 14th, 2014

With this book about space you’ll become an expert and wow your friends and teachers with out-of-this-world facts: Did you know that Mars has a volcano bigger than the state of Arizona? Or that there’s a star with a diamond the size of our moon at its core? With great illustrations, cool trivia, and fun quizzes to test your knowledge, this guide will have you on your way to whiz-kid status in no time!


DK Eyewitness Books: Space Exploration: Blast into Space and Hitch a Ride on the Earliest Rockets and the Latest Probes By Carole Stott Cover Image
$9.99
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ISBN: 9781465426161
Published: DK Children - August 18th, 2014

Learn how rockets work, find out about the various missions to the Moon and Mars, and know about all the rovers and landers with Eyewitness Space Exploration. Train with the astronauts to find out about the equipment they use to work in space.


Stars and Planets (DK Handbooks) By Ian Ridpath Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9780744058093
Availability: In Our Warehouse - Expected arrival in 2-5 days
Published: DK - September 6th, 2022

Authoritative text, crystal-clear charts, and a systematic approach make the DK Handbook of Star and Planets the perfect beginner’s guide to the night sky. A highly visual introduction explains the basic concepts of astronomy and gives advice on the best methods and equipment for observation, including binoculars and telescopes. Each of the planets in the solar system is described and illustrated in detail, with images taken from space probes as well as from the ground, showing them as you can expect to see them.


Other Great Books for You to Explore: 
Dr. E's Super Stellar Solar System: Massive Mountains! Supersize Storms! Alien Atmospheres! (Science Superheroes) By Bethany Ehlmann Cover Image
$12.99
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ISBN: 9781426327988
Published: National Geographic Kids - January 30th, 2018

Life on Mars By Jon Agee Cover Image
$18.99
ISBN: 9780399538520
Availability: On Our Store Shelves Now
Published: Rocky Pond Books - February 28th, 2017

CatStronauts: Race to Mars By Drew Brockington Cover Image
$8.99
ISBN: 9780316307505
Availability: On Our Store Shelves Now
Published: Little, Brown Ink - April 18th, 2017

The Boy Who Went to Mars By Simon James, Simon James (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Simon James, Simon James (Illustrator)
$16.99
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ISBN: 9780763695989
Published: Candlewick - November 20th, 2018

Mars Exploration Rovers: An Interactive Space Exploration Adventure (You Choose: Space) By Steve Kortenkamp Cover Image
$6.95
Email or call for price.
ISBN: 9781491481394
Published: Capstone Press - August 1st, 2016

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