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
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  Civilizations Beyond Earth
  
  
  
  
  
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  **CIVILIZATIONS BEYOND EARTH**
  
  
  _Extraterrestrial Life and Society_
  
  
  Edited by
  
  
  Douglas A. Vakoch and Albert A. Harrison
  
  
  _**Berghahn Books**_
  
  
  New York • Oxford
  
  
  Published in 2011 by
  
  
  _**Berghahn Books**_
  
  
  www.berghahnbooks.com
  
  
  ©2011 Douglas A. Vakoch and Albert A. Harrison All rights reserved. Except for
  the quotation of short passages for the purposes of criticism and review, no
  part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or
  mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and
  retrieval system now known or to be invented, without written permission of
  the publisher.
  
  
  **Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data** Civilizations beyond
  earth : extraterrestrial life and society / edited by Douglas A. Vakoch and
  Albert A. Harrison.
  
  
  p. cm.
  
  
  Includes bibliographical references and index.
  
  
  ISBN 978-0-85745-211-5 (hardbac