NonFiction Monday: Planets, Stars, and Galaxies

Planets, Stars, and Galaxies: a visual encyclopedia of our Universe by David A. Aguilar, National Geographic, 2007

David Aguilar describes the planets of our solar system as well as dark matter, neutron stars, nebula, and many other phenomena of space in this book.

What makes this book different from others on the subject, are the glowing illustrations that Aguilar created from NASA and telescope photographs . The photos are enhanced and photoshopped to offer a "you are there" presence to the reader. What would it feel like to be in the middle of the Kuiper Belt? Well, pages 62 and 63 give us an idea. Imaginative space ships tour planets and space suited explorers stand on the surface of one of Jupiter's moons.

Aguilar fills the text with factual information. He explains how a star burns in a graphic that depicts the collision of two protons and the release of energy that is starlight. The location of supernova, nebula and other objects are marked in constellation maps when they are visible through binoculars.

The author has projected reader into the galaxy, traveling exploring and experiencing the wonders of the universe. We live in a time when the Space Shuttle program seems routine and low Earth orbit is the best we can do. The book could fire the imagination of kids who have seen the spectacular images of the space telescopes and now think, "been there-done that." Chapters, "Are we Alone?" and "Dreams of Tomorrow" ponder what is "alien life" and ideas for the future of space engineering.

If you believe the program How William Shatner changed the world, (and I do) my generation was inspired to "make it so" by Star Trek. This book fires the imagination and could also inspire a young person today to look skyward.

Meet the Meerkat

Meet the Meerkat by Darrin Lunde, illustrated by Patricia J. Wynne. Charlesbridge. 2007

When I am clicking though the television channels ("Fifty-seven channels and nothin' on") I confess I will screech to a halt to watch Meerkat Manor which is why I wanted to take a look at this new book. The meerkat facts are explained in a question-answer format.

Little Meerkat,
what do you eat?

I eat insects, spiders, and scorpians.
I smell them with my nose.
Then I dig them up with my feet.
what do you eat?

I was struck by how well the format of the book lends itself to the Big 6 research model Step 1 which begins by listing the questions that need answers during the research process. What animals eat, where they live, what they look like are the staples of young researchers' animal reports. The book itself could be a model for the product or Step 5.

Patricia Wynnes illustrations capture the expressive faces of the meerkats and their movements. I would absolutely add this book to my 599.74 section.

Our Seasons

Our Seasons by Grace Lin and Ranida T. McKneally, illustrated by Grace Lin, 2006

In this part of Texas we do have four seasons. They are Hot & Humid, Downpour, Open-Window-Day (usually a day in the traditional Fall and Spring where we all open our windows to let in the beautiful fresh air and then slam them shut,) and Cool. I am not complaining, that is just the way it is. The friendliest folks in the world live here and if the weather was different, we couldn't afford our homes.

This year however, we have also managed to squeeze in winter. January 2007 (and now February) has been so gray and cold and rainy that people are starting to suffer the kind of cabin fever and semi-depression that is usually reserved for snow bound folks up north. We are just not used to so many days in a row of gloom, chill and rain. This seems like a good time to bring a terrific book to the attentions of school librarians who are looking for new resources for the first grade "Seasons" unit or haiku poetry.

Lin and McKneally have crafted a different kind of "seasons" book. Autumn, winter, spring and summer are described with haiku verse and illustrated with scenes of children enjoying the time of year. There are also questions and scientific explanations for aspects of the seasons, like "Why do my cheeks turn red in the cold?" or "Why do bees like flowers?" Kids in this part of the world would probably like to know the answer to "Why is the air sticky?" The book would pair with Chris Van Allsburg's The Stranger as Lin beautifully illustrates frost on the window and the book answers the question, "Why is there frost on the window?" Alas, the concept of Jack Frost is hard to relate to here on the coastal plain.

Grace Lin's signature use of texture and pattern evokes childhood with every brush stroke and the clear beautiful colors will engage readers.

This is a Gotta-have-it for school libraries.

Grace Lins blogs at Pacyforest