Goldstein, Margaret J. Investigating Mars. Alternator Books: Destination Mars. Lerner,
08/2023. 32pp. Nonfiction. PLB $30.65. 978-1-7284-9066-3. PBK $10.99. 979-8765602768.
GRADES 3–6. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
SERIES REVIEW: Investigating Mars is one of six books in this series and functions as an
overview, with each of the additional volumes focusing on one topic each: Mars Rovers, Landing
on Mars, Travel to Mars, Living on Mars, and Water on Mars. (Note: this reviewer saw only the
first three of the six volumes listed.) The chapters are short, and each page provides a large photo
with a caption accompanied by a paragraph or two of text. The layout is clean, not busy. Readers
who enjoyed Mary Roach’s wonderfully gross Packing for Mars for Kids (Norton Young
Readers, 2022) or Jasmine Warga’s scifi fantasy A Rover’s Story (Balzer + Bray, 2022) could
turn to this series to go deeper into all aspects of Mars exploration, including the possibility of
sending humans to Mars. Each volume includes a short glossary, an index, and a list of age-
appropriate websites for further research (though some are other books in this series and older
books from the same publisher). A strong addition for an area of library collections that needs
constant updating.
Cindy Gullikson—Joaquin Miller School, Oakland Unified School District