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The Story Orchestra: The Planets

By Jessica Courtney-Tickle

Helen and Tim blast off in a rocket-bed, but what will Holst’s planets reveal?

interactive · educational · enchanting · musical

Pageticker community rating

Average 4.8, from 10 readers

What do our readers think of The Story Orchestra: The Planets? (AI-Generated Summary)

Children enjoy the colourful space adventure, the planet facts and pressing the buttons to hear the music, with some wanting to read it again and again.

What does the Pageticker team say about The Story Orchestra: The Planets?

The Story Orchestra: The Planets sends two siblings zooming through space with Holst’s music as their soundtrack, which is a fairly unbeatable travel plan. Jessica Courtney-Tickle’s glowing illustrations make the planets feel wonderfully mysterious, while the sound buttons offer a lively introduction to orchestral music; adults may need to help younger children press them firmly in just the right spot.

Genres

Adventure Science Fiction Non-fiction

What is The Story Orchestra: The Planets about?

Join siblings Helen and Tim on a magical journey through the solar system in their rocket-bed spaceship. As they explore dazzling planets, icy asteroid belts, and glittering stars, press the buttons on each page to hear 10-second excerpts from Holst’s masterpiece, 'The Planets'. This interactive adventure introduces children to the wonders of orchestral music, accompanied by stunning illustrations that bring the vastness of space and the majesty of Holst's score to life.

About the author

Jessica Courtney-Tickle is a talented British illustrator and author who loves bringing stories to life with her colourful artwork. She is well known for illustrating the popular 'Story Orchestra' series, where music and stories come together. Jessica enjoys using her imagination to create magical worlds that inspire children to explore, dream, and have fun with reading.

Discussion ideas around The Story Orchestra: The Planets

A musical space journey: Which planet or part of the journey do you think Holst’s music brings to life best, and what makes you think that?

Helen and Tim’s adventure: How do Helen and Tim show curiosity and courage as they travel through space?

Our astonishing solar system: Which fact about the planets would you most like to investigate further, and why?

Sounds and pictures: How do the illustrations and music work together to make space feel exciting, peaceful or mysterious?

Your favourite planet: Which planet would you like to visit, and why?

Pages

24 pages

Reading age

Picture Book (2-7)

This edition

2023

First published

2023

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