| 9780525579335 |
| 0525579338 |
Available:*
Library | Material Type | Call Number | Shelf Location | Status | Item Holds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Searching... Library 21c | Children's Book | 523.1 CART | Children's-J-Nonfiction | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
Searching... Penrose Library | Children's Book | 523.1 CART | Children's-J-Nonfiction | Searching... Unknown | Searching... Unavailable |
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Summary
Summary
Young space and science enthusiasts will be captivated by this exciting exploration of the Big Bang and the origins of the universe.
Once upon a star, there were no stars to shine, no sun to rise, no day, no night. Until . . . a mighty BOOM!
The Big Bang, the formation of the planets, and the origins of life on Earth are made accessible and fascinating in a poetic, jazzy, free-flowing exploration of space, the solar system, and how we all got here. With its rhythmic, and engaging style, this book is a unique and captivating approach to science and STEM topics that will have kids asking to read it again and again--while learning lessons and concepts that really stick.
Parents and teachers will love it too (and will likely learn something!) as their young ones read about our solar system's origins in an inviting , fresh, yet factual format. With art that calls to mind the era of the space race, the book is everything you need: hip, fun, engaging nonfiction for today's young scientists.
Critics love Once Upon a Star :
"The right 'stuff' for young readers who have wondered about the stars and about their place in space."-- Kirkus
"Budding scientists and stargazers will find plenty to enjoy in this lyrical introduction to the sun. . . . An excellent resource for STEM-related activities, science curricula, or children who are simply curious about the world around them." --School Library Journal
"traces the march of evolution with crisp, graphic forms." --Publishers Weekly
"A lively, rhapsodic exploration of the cosmos . . . Each page is a stunning visual feast."--Space.com
"Carter delivers his mini lesson on the Big Bang, cosmic formation, and the coalescence of stardust in gently unreeling, rhyme-sprinkled verse that has the soothing cadence of a bedtime story." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"a perfect addition to the library of any budding astronaut or scientist."--ReadBrightly.com
Author Notes
JAMES CARTER is a poet, guitarist, and songwriter, and the author of numerous children's books where poetry meets science. He lives in England. Find out more about James's writing and music at jamescarterpoet.co.uk and follow him on Twitter at @jamescarterpoet.
MAR HERNANDEZ is an illustrator and teacher based in Valencia, Spain. See more of her work at malotaprojects.com.
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2-Budding scientists and stargazers will find plenty to enjoy in this lyrical introduction to the sun. The rhyming narrative poem is set in bold type, which partners well with the vibrant retro illustrations. Adults will recognize the artistic tribute to the Space Age, while children will enjoy the fresh and brilliant colors that pair perfectly with the text. While literary devices, such as similes, are used, as when stars are "lights like lanterns on a shore," the poem never loses its focus on scientific wonder. After a brief introduction to stars and the sun, readers are taken back in history when nothing existed until there was an explosion-the big bang. A beautiful spread illustrates the solar system before zooming down to Earth and simply describing that life began there, too, and how we are all made of stardust so each of us is a star. A section at the end spells out "The Sun" vertically, acrostic style, providing a sentence for each letter with extra information about the sun. VERDICT An excellent resource for STEM-related activities, science curricula, or children who are simply curious about the world around them.-Rachel Zuffa, -Racine Public Library, WI © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
Bold, retro-style artwork by HernA¡ndez and big splashy type give the spreads that accompany these space poems the impact of posters. The introductory image shows angular plant life in silhouette against a dusky blue sky with text in bold white letters: "Down comes night/ and if cloud-free,/ look up, you'll find the galaxy." In the pages that follow, HernA¡ndez chooses stately ochre and red for pointed stars ("one hundred billion, maybe more"), makes the sun a great yellow ball with crisp rays that seem to radiate warmth, represents the Big Bang ("A mighty BOOM/ A huge KERRANG") with streaks and random shapes that emanate from a red burst, and traces the march of evolution with crisp, graphic forms ("Then life swam, crawled, flew"). Carter's lines may put some readers off ("We're from that star/ that seems so far./ We're made of stardust, /yes, we are."), but others may welcome poetry that doesn't sound fancy. Acrostic-style space facts close the book. Ages 3-7. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Booklist Review
Drawing on Carl Sagan's famous quote, We are made of star stuff, comes this picture-book introduction to the universe. Rhythmic, rhyming text begins with a look at the stars in our galaxy, most notably the sun, and then takes readers back in time before these stars or anything existed. From here Carpenter describes the creation of the universe: A mighty BOOM / a huge KERBANG / that scientists call THE BIG BANG! Beautifully patterned and geometric illustrations accompany the rhymes as the author explains how, after the universe cooled, stars were born, the solar system formed, and planets grew. As the skies and oceans materialized, so, too, did animals that evolved from water to land. The text returns to the importance of the sun as it provides us light, warmth, and food, and how we are all made of the same stardust that shaped the sun. A concluding acrostic that spells out "THE SUN" lists related facts about our closest star. Pair with Ian Lendler's One Day a Dot (2018) to extend the wonder of the universe.--Angela Leeper Copyright 2019 Booklist
