The Kingfisher Young People's Book of Space (Kingfisher Book Of) [Hardcover]

Martin Redfern (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up | Series: Kingfisher Book Of

Embark on an exciting and educational tour of the cosmos in this information-packed guide -- from the first few seconds after the Big Bang to the remote-controlled Pathfinder expedition to Mars and beyond. The journey begins with an introduction to space exploration and humanity's relationship with the stars, from the astronomers of the ancient world, to the day-to-day work of orbiting satellites. Next is a tour of our own solar system, the Milky Way, and Galaxy: atmospheric planetscapes reveal the frozen methane seas of Pluto, while the carefully timed trajectory of the Voyager Probe provide stunning pictures from Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Full color photographs and computer-generated illustrations are carefully balanced with a succinct, informative text to provide curious young astronomers with a far-ranging understanding of the Universe. This cutting-edge guide is a visual and educational treat for children ready to seek the outer limits of their imaginations. Also includes a highly accessible factfile and glossary.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6?Though busy page design makes a visual tangle of some spreads, and several illustrations are more decorative than edifying, this distillation outdoes such competitors as Lisa Miles's The Usborne Complete Book of Astronomy and Space (EDC, 1998) for currency and cosmic scope. Redfern begins with Anaxagoras's third century B.C.E. supposition that the Earth circles the Sun rather than vice-versa, and then goes on to detail the subsequent history of astronomical research, including the major successes and failures of both Soviet and U.S. space programs. The author describes the components of the solar system and the stellar life cycle, moves on to discuss galaxies, speculates about extraterrestrial life, and finishes by pointing out that there are still many unanswered questions about the way our universe works. On each topical spread, relatively substantial blocks of text are arranged next to, or sometimes on, full-color paintings or photos that range in size from thumbnails to entire backgrounds. On spreads with more than one narrative thread, readers may have trouble staying on track, and some of the art, such as a series of captioned but unlabeled cross sections of various celestial bodies' atmospheres, add more color than information to the presentation. Still, this wide-angle view of what we have learned so far in our observations of the universe makes a meaty update or replacement for older books, including James Muirden's Stars and Planets (Kingfisher, 1993) and the "Secrets of Space" series (21st Century).?John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Children's Literature

This volume is easy to read and invites many hours of investigation, which will both educate and provide entertainment.

School Library Journal

This wide-angle view of what we have learned so far in our observations of the universe makes a meaty update or replacement for older books, including James Muirden's Stars and Planets (Kingfisher, 1993) and the "Secrets of Space" series (21st Century).

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 95 pages
• Publisher: Kingfisher (September 30, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753451360
• ISBN-13: 978-0753451366
• Product Dimensions: 11.7 x 9.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,291,895 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Book for Young Space Explorers, April 27, 2004

By 

Barbara Rose (BornToInspire.com) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Kingfisher Young People's Book of Space (Kingfisher Book Of) (Hardcover)

This breathtaking full color glossy book has incredible pictures and information ranging from the "Race to the Moon" to "Earthwatch" "Mission to Mars" "Comets" "Star Life" and includes a fantastic glossary at the back of the book. It also includes: "Universal Facts" "Brightest Stars" (in order of apparent brightness) "Major Telescopes - Optical/infrared and "Major Planetary Probes" providing the name, nation, launch info, target, and result.
The pictures and layout of the book is outstanding, and it provides so much useful information, including "Beyond Time" "The Search for E.T." and "Impossible Questions."

I highly recommend this book to kids of all ages that are intrigued by the cosmos, and want a fantastic introduction to our solar system and beyond. Deserves 10 Stars!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Kingfisher Young People's Book of Space, September 22, 2005

By 

M. E. (Rancho P. V.,CA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Kingfisher Young People's Book of Space (Kingfisher Book Of) (Hardcover)

I think this is a great kid's space book. It is broken up into specific subjects on each page. They get right to the point and they still make it interesting to read. My kids have enjoyed having it read to them.