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George's Secret Key to the Universe Hardcover – Illustrated, October 23, 2007
Purchase options and add-ons
- Print length304 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Grade level3 - 7
- Lexile measure850L
- Dimensions6 x 1.1 x 8.5 inches
- PublisherSimon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication dateOctober 23, 2007
- ISBN-101416954627
- ISBN-13978-1416954620
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Editorial Reviews
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*"What better way to interest young readers in science...than for one of the world's most renowned theoretical physicists to put his subect at the center of a children's book?...A true beginnger's guide to A Brief History of Time." ― Publishers Weekly, starred review
"[An] entertaining read-aloud that integrates well-presented scientific facts and theories within a charmingly illustrated chapter book." ― Booklist
"A relief for the science-deficient parent in need of a little extra help." ― New York Magazine
About the Author
Lucy Hawking, Stephen Hawking’s daughter, is a journalist and novelist. She is the coauthor of the George’s Secret Key series for kids, as well as the author of the adult novels Jaded and Run for Your Life. She lives in Cambridge with her son.
Garry Parsons is the award-winning illustrator of many books, including George’s Secret Key to the Universe, George’s Cosmic Treasure Hunt, George and the Big Bang, George and the Unbreakable Code, and George and the Blue Moon by Lucy and Stephen Hawking; Billy’s Bucket by Kes Gray; and What’s Cool About School by Kate Agnew. He lives in London. Visit him at GarryParsons.co.uk.
Product details
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers; Illustrated edition (October 23, 2007)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 304 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1416954627
- ISBN-13 : 978-1416954620
- Reading age : 6 - 10 years, from customers
- Lexile measure : 850L
- Grade level : 3 - 7
- Item Weight : 1.09 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 1.1 x 8.5 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #782,106 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,506 in Children's Science Fiction Books (Books)
- #12,098 in Children's Fantasy & Magic Books
- #15,743 in Children's Action & Adventure Books (Books)
- Customer Reviews:
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About the authors

Stephen Hawking's ability to make science understandable and compelling to a lay audience was established with the publication of his first book, A Brief History of Time, which has sold nearly 10 million copies in 40 languages. Hawking has authored or participated in the creation of numerous other popular science books, including The Universe in a Nutshell, A Briefer History of Time, On the Shoulders of Giants, The Illustrated On the Shoulders of Giants, and George's Secret Key to the Universe.
(Stephen William Hawking; Oxford, Reino Unido, 8 de Enero de 1942 - Cambridge, 14 de marzo de 2018) Físico teórico británico. A pesar de sus discapacidades físicas y de las progresivas limitaciones impuestas por la enfermedad degenerativa que padecía, Stephen William Hawking es probablemente el físico más conocido entre el gran público desde los tiempos de Einstein. Luchador y triunfador, a lo largo de toda su vida logró sortear la inmensidad de impedimentos que le planteó el mal de Lou Gehrig, una esclerosis lateral amiotrófica que le aquejaba desde que tenía 20 años. Hawking es, sin duda, un ejemplo particular de vitalidad y resistencia frente al infortunio del destino.
Fue miembro de la Real Sociedad de Londres, de la Academia Pontificia de las Ciencias y de la Academia Nacional de Ciencias de Estados Unidos. Fue titular de la Cátedra Lucasiana de Matemáticas (Lucasian Chair of Mathematics) de la Universidad de Cambridge desde 1979 hasta su jubilación en 2009. Entre las numerosas distinciones que le han sido concedidas, Hawking ha sido honrado con doce doctorados honoris causa y ha sido galardonado con la Orden del Imperio Británico (grado CBE) en 1982, el Premio Príncipe de Asturias de la Concordia en 1989, la Medalla Copley en 2006, la Medalla de la Libertad en 2009 y el Premio Fundación BBVA Fronteras del Conocimiento en 2015.
Alcanzó éxitos de ventas con sus trabajos divulgativos sobre Ciencia, en los que discute sobre sus propias teorías y la cosmología en general; estos incluyen A Brief History of Time, que estuvo en la lista de best-sellers del The Sunday Times británico durante 237 semanas.
La Editorial Alvi Books le dedicó, como tributo y reconocimiento, este espacio en Amazon en 2016.

Lucy Hawking, Stephen's daughter, is a journalist and novelist. She is the author of the adult novels Jaded and Run for Your Life. She lives in London with her son.

Bill Bryson was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1951. Settled in England for many years, he moved to America with his wife and four children for a few years ,but has since returned to live in the UK. His bestselling travel books include The Lost Continent, Notes From a Small Island, A Walk in the Woods and Down Under. His acclaimed work of popular science, A Short History of Nearly Everything, won the Aventis Prize and the Descartes Prize, and was the biggest selling non-fiction book of the decade in the UK.
Photography © Julian J

Christophe Galfard would be very happy if everyone understood the universe as it is known today. He believes the world and its inhabitants would benefit greatly from this, and that kind of matters to him. So, for this to happen, he began writing books. For children, first. He started with "George's Secret Key to the Universe", which he co-wrote with Professor Stephen Hawking and his daughter, Lucy.
If you wonder how on Earth did he manage to write a book with Stephen Hawking, well, Christophe actually holds a Ph.D. in Theoretical Physics from Cambridge University (UK), and his supervisor was Stephen Hawking. Together, they worked on the so-called Black Hole Information Paradox (and the origins of our universe).
Christophe has spent years giving popular science talks about our universe, throughout the world. Having met many, he now believes that not only kids but adults too, can understand it all. "The Universe in Your Hand - A Journey Through Space, Time and Beyond" is a pop-science book that brings you to the cutting edge of today's knowledge without needing any scientific background whatsoever. He hopes you'll enjoy the trip, and that it will make you feel good. Very good, even.
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This book is aimed at children; however, even adults will enjoy this unusual volume that combines science facts with an educational interesting story of a young boy named George and a girl named Anne, who lives next store, and whose father has a magical computer. Along with the quite involved story involving school and other characters, there are numerous color photos and facts about the planets, stars, black holes and other areas of the cosmos.
This book was created with collaboration between Stephen Hawking, his daughter Lucy Hawking and Christophe Galfard. I think this is a great educational type of book for younger students who enjoy reading a good story along with learning fascinating scientific facts about the universe.
Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: The Samurai Heart: An old warrior’s poetic tribute).
The premise is that an elementary school aged boy, George, has a scientist and his family move in next door. The scientist, Eric, has a daughter, Annie, who is a little younger than George, and a wife, Susan who is a music teacher. George has parents that are Ecoactivists and have taught George to distrust Science and Technology. They use candles rather than electric lights, grow their own vegetables, are vegetarians who cook all their food from scratch (like broccoli and spinach muffins), don't use computers at all, and go on protest marches. At the beginning of the story George is embarrassed somewhat by his parents because he is made different from the other children at school because of them. Then George meets Annie and her father next door. Eric shows George that Science is amazing and not something to fear. He also teaches George that Scientists are concerned about the state of the planet (and working to help the situation) and that he admires George's parents for taking a stand. George's parents eventually learn to accept Science and it's possible benefit to the planet and humanity for their part.
In order to accomplish all this realization on the part of all the characters in the story, the authors weave an amusing sci-fi plot complete with the world's most powerful computer (a quantum one) named Cosmos able to create doorways into just about anywhere in the Universe. The children ride a comet around the solar system and Eric gets in trouble coming across the universe's most powerful object. George's teacher is actually an evil scientist out to get Eric and steal Cosmos and George also faces school bullies.
The book is interspersed with science essays that could be a bit over the head of younger elementary students and even sometimes older ones. They will be interesting for more advanced students however. It also includes many full color glossy photos from the Hubble. Science facts about the solar system and other cosmic objects are woven into the plot. Also incorporated into the plot is an understanding of how real science actually works and how scientists work together to accomplish it.
My 5th grade students loved this series as a read-aloud. My own children, 5 and 8, love this series as well. I highly recommend the series to parents and teachers. Every elementary school library should have a copy of these. Also, the audiobook versions of these are very well done, although they take out all the science essays. They are dramatized with fun sound effects and voice acting.
The book told a story of saving the planet and/or searching for other habitable planets. Should we work together to do both? Can technology be a good thing if used correctly?
This book is full of fun scientific information. There are footnotes about the planets, comets, asteroids, matter, black holes and many other astronomical objects. The illustrations that accompany the story are wonderful, courtesy of Garry Parsons. There are several color photos of planets, black holes, comets and other things discussed in the book. Kids learn about astronomy without realizing they are learning! Don't forget to check out the webpage georgessecretkey.com
Top reviews from other countries
Reviewed in India on November 16, 2023
I'm told he is enjoying it as anticipated.
It arrived with courtesy and a smile on time and as requested.
Books are always an interesting and intelligent gift if recommend as of interest to the recipient.
Reviewed in Brazil on August 16, 2020














