title: Alien Worlds: Your Guide to Extraterrestrial Life (National Geographic Kids)
author:  David A. Aguilar 
description: Gr 46After a brief overview of star life cycles, habitable zones, and how scientists conduct the search for Earth-like planets, the book presents the ecosystems and possible life forms of several imaginary planets. These worlds are based on actual planets observed outside our solar system, and the author makes clear connections between a given planet's characteristics (higher gravity than Earth, for example) and the effects on the alien life that evolved there (six-legged creatures reduce the weight load per leg). However, the transition between facts and fantasy is abrupt and may leave young readers confused about which content is real science and which is, as the book says, "scientifically based speculation." Readers with no background in the topic would be better served by the straightforward explanations in Mark Brake's The Alien Hunter's Handbook, which has a similarly jaunty, humorous tone. The digitally painted images, some based on polymer clay models, are not up to par with National Geographic's usual stunning photography but will be fun for browsers and fans of monster movie special effects. Back matter includes a complicated clay modeling project and extensive Web and print resources.Sarah Stone, San Francisco Public Library
zlib_text: > **__Galactic Defenders __**
  
  Endurance
  
  Book One of the Defenders Trilogy
  
   **  
  **
  
   **Michael Mishoe**
  
  Copyright © 2018 Michael Mishoe
  
  All rights reserved.
  
  ISBN-13: 9781983352355
  
  > **__Prologue__**
  
  Date: July 6, 2132.
  
  ​The question of whether other life lives out in outer space has been
  answered. Alien life does exist. But they are not our allies; they are our
  conquerors. They came to Earth without warning or announcement. By the time
  our satellites picked up their starships, they were already in orbit. The
  President of America along with several other representatives around the
  world, attempted to contact them, but their calls ware unanswered, other than
  an announcement that they were a robotic species called the Ribiyar. After all
  their ships arrived in orbit, many of them descended into our atmosphere, and
  began attacking all the major civilizations of the world, targeting everything
  from Russia and Japan to the Netherlands and America. When the attack began,
  the united ar