Don't Know Much About Space [Paperback]

Kenneth C. Davis (Author), Sergio Ruzzier (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up | Series: Don't Know Much About

• If Earth is round, why don't people on the other side of the world fall off? (see page 26)
• Is Mars red because it's embarrassed? (see page 49)
• If black holes are invisible, how do we know they're there? (see page 86)

Using the popular style that has won millions of readers, best-selling author Kenneth C. Davis blasts off for the stars! With an entertaining question-and-answer format, amusing anecdotes, and fact-filled sidebars, he sets his sights on the mysteries of space.

Humorous illustrations, along with NASA photographs, add fun and excitement to this fascinating and comprehensive book. Davis takes you back to the time when the Babylonians first charted the stars -- over three thousand years ago! You'll uncover amazing facts about the planets and stars, read how people were once convinced that Earth was the center of the universe, and discover how the experience of moonwalking astronauts may someday lead us to become pioneers on other planets.

This book is the perfect companion to Don't Know Much About® The Universe -- and all the other books in the New York Times best-selling Don't Know Much About® series.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Don't know much about space? Interested in finding out where the good vacation spots would be on Mars if humans ever lived there? Wondering how many stars are out there in the universe? All these answers and 10 billion trillion more can be found in the latest volume from Kenneth C. Davis's fun Don't Know Much About series for kids. Oh wait--10 billion trillion is the number of stars in the universe, not answers in the book. Using a lively, witty question-and-answer format, Davis provides remarkable information about the sun, stars, planets, and the universe, and encourages readers to contemplate such issues as humans' ability to travel to and live in other worlds.

Kenneth Davis, author of the bestselling Don't Know Much About History, as well as Don't Know Much About Planet Earth, Don't Know Much About the Solar System, Don't Know Much About the 50 States, etc., has a special knack for bringing science and history alive. Simple and amusing drawings by illustrator Sergio Ruzzier accompany the text. (Ages 9 to 12) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly

Two volumes aimed at slightly older readers take on the galaxy and topics closer to home. In Don't Know Much About Space, with b&w drawings by Sergio Ruzzier, Davis tackles questions such as "Who invented astronomy?," offers quotes from sages through the ages in "Voices of the Universe" sidebars, and profiles "Cosmic Superstars" such as Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) in brief biographical boxes. In Don't Know Much About Planet Earth, with b&w drawings by Tom Bloom, faux-notebook pages highlight "Naturally Extraordinary" feats, such as historic earthquakes, volcanoes, etc., while "Geographic Voices" capture specific moments, such as Marco Polo's 1275 description of Kublai Khan's park in Beijing. Both volumes' timeline, glossary, selected bibliography and index will further assist aspiring students of the earth and its environs.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (July 24, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064408353
• ISBN-13: 978-0064408356
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #227,456 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #32 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Astronomy & Space > Aeronautics & Space
  • #37 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Reference & Nonfiction > Politics & Government
  • #59 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Astronomy & Space > Astronomy

More About the Author

Ken Davis is the author of Don't Know Much About History, which spent 35 consecutive weeks on The New York Times bestseller list, and gave rise to the Don't Know Much About series, which has a combined in-print total of 4.3-million copies.Ken Davis has been dubbed The King of Knowing by Amazon.com because he becomes a subject expert in all of the areas he writes about; the Bible, Mythology, the Universe, the Civil War, for example. Ken has also been a Wise Man; on Who Wants to be a SuperMillionaire and a Life Line on the regular edition of the show. Ken Davis's success aptly makes the case that Americans don't hate history, just the dull version they slept through in class. But many of them want to know now because their kids are asking them questions they can't answer. Davis's approach is to refresh us on the subjects we should have learned in school. He does it by busting myths, setting the record straight and always remembering that fun is not a four-word letter word. A somewhat well-kept secret: Ken Davis never graduated from college, but he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Concordia College in Bronxville, where he was also asked to give a commencement address. Ken Davis is a frequent media guest. He has appeared on hundreds of television and radio shows, including NPR, The Today Show, Fox and Friends, CNN, and The Discovery Channel. He has been a commentator for All Things Considered, and has written for the New York Times. In addition to his adult titles, he writes the Don't Know Much About Children's series published by HarperCollins. He lives in New York with his wife. They have two grown children.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We're adults and we couldn't stop reading it!, November 28, 2001

By 

Michele Yamazaki "Michele Yamazaki" (Grand Rapids) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Don't Know Much About Space (Paperback)

My husband, who is from Japan, reads only 4x4 magazines and Japanese comics, yet, he read this book from start to finish. The book is written for kids 8-12, but I found it very entertaining and well written.

This would be great for a kid who is interested in science (or even, not interested... it may spur their interest). For example, a couple of the topics are "True or False: Astronauts grow taller in space" and "Do Saturns Rings have Sheep?"

The illustrations are fun and there's some nice space photos. The book is well organized with a timeline in the back, as well as a glossary. It's an easy enjoyable read. The added bonus was that we looked really smart when we were watching Jeopardy with some friends and we both blew through all of the questions in the space category ;-)