Reference Books About Space
For as infinite as outer space is, there are an infinite number of questions. Check out these various Space Reference Books to learn the facts and theories. The following sites will also provide some fascinating information, teaching materials and educational games and activities.
http://www.kidsastronomy.com/
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/index.html
http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/space.html
Reviews
Atlas of the Universe
Mark A. Garlick
Sumptuously presented, Atlas of the Universe covers a tremendous amount of material in a relatively short book. The graphical material is wonderful, worthy of perusal for its own sake, and clearly provides details of the myriad astronomical and cosmological subjects addressed. The text, however, does not live up to the promise of the art. Written in an odd admixture of technical detail and vernacular, the descriptive material may leave the targeted young readers confused and unenlightened. The more motivated may see this shortcoming as an opportunity to explore further, but no resources are provided. There are numerous inconsistencies and mistakes, such as two values for the sun’s surface temperature and an incorrect calculation of a Celsius equivalent for Fahrenheit; the Japanese Hyabusa spacecraft is claimed not to have touched down on asteroid Itowaka; and it is stated that nothing can escape from black holes—but what about Hawking radiation? I have to wonder at the precision of statements such as the diameter of Venus being precisely 7,521 miles and that the Earth’s diameter is 7,926 miles—implying that the Earth is spherical. The section on astronomy is very well done and could cause readers to look at the night sky. The book’s organization, however, is illogical, particularly without introductory material or a “road map” to guide the reader. It should work, though, for just dipping in and then looking around for related material. The glossary is laudable, although there are entries with no preceding discussion. The index is reasonably complete. If the errors can be tolerated or addressed, Atlas will stir imaginations. (Insiders) Glossary; Index. Recommended, Grades 5-8, General Audience. 2008, Simon & Schuster, 128pp., $19.99. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Mitchell K. Hobish (Science Books and Films (Vol. 45, No. 1))
ISBN: 9781416955580
ISBN: 1416955585
Atlas of the Universe
Dr. Mark A. Garlick
While the target age group is middle readers and up, I felt it was more like taking an astronomy course. The book is just chock full of information, accompanied by detailed illustrations, drawings, and fabulous photographs. It starts with our solar system, and for each planet, there are pictures and descriptions of unmanned probes or human exploration, as in the case of Earth’s Moon. There is a discussion of meteors and meteorites, the asteroid belt, and comets. Then, the story moves on to the universe. There are an incredible number of star systems and types of stars, and the text is accompanied with stupendous pictures of nebula, galaxies, galaxy clusters, and black holes. There is an entire section devoted to stargazing. It includes a good discussion of stargazing, early telescopes, and mapping the stars (the book has more than a dozen star maps, which will help anyone trying to identify constellations in the night sky). The concluding section focuses on space—starting with what are presumed to be the earliest observatories, such as Stonehenge, and showing the interest and records of the Chinese, Babylonians, and Egyptians, all of whom paid close attention to the movements of the stars and planets that they could see and kept records of the seasonal changes. After a brief introduction to Ptolemy, Brahe, Copernicus, Newton, and Galileo—it is a fast forward to the current space program. First, the book covers unmanned missions and telescopes, then man’s venture into space, including, of course, the first landing on the Moon, space probes, what the future may hold for exploration, and whether or not life exists elsewhere in the vast realms of space. Missions and launches are recapped. There is an extensive glossary and multi-page index. This book is an excellent reference and also one that can be picked up and perused and time and again to learn more. For any kid who has an interest in our solar system and beyond, this would be an outstanding purchase.
BIBLIO: 2008 (orig. 2007), Simon & Schuster, Ages 9 to 14, $19.99.
REVIEWER: Marilyn Courtot
FORMAT: Middle Reader
ISBN: 978-1-4169-5558-0
ISBN: 1-4169-5558-5
Cosmic
Giles Sparrow
This 3-D adventure begins before the book is even opened: On the cover, your fingertips can feel granulations on the sun’s surface; then press the TRY ME button and see bright blue (LED) stars and red and white flashing lights that could represent opposite polarizations in a solar coronal loop. Next, turn the page and blow up the universe as a multilayered pop-up of galaxies, colorful nebulae, and stars “explodes,”—with sound, in a “big bang.” The first two facing pages describe the creation of the universe and the cycle of births and deaths of stars. These pages fold out and have a number of flip-up windows with even more information. Other facing-page topics are “Looking into Space” (a Hubble telescope cutaway and a small pop-up illustrating the scale of astronomical distances), “The Planets” (rocky and gas giant and fold-over cross sections of Earth and Saturn), “The Solar System and Minor Worlds” (Pluto is called a “one-time planet”), “Stars” (sun and star evolution and a fold-over cross section of the sun), “Galaxies” (with a wheel illustrating the motion of particle jets emanating from a black hole and three flip-up windows within the Milky Way), and “Exploring Space and Robot Spacecraft” (showing a detailed pop-up of the Apollo LEM, with a lunar rover and the Earth in the black-sky background). “The Solar System and Minor Worlds” facing pages have an impressive pop-out of the planets, including the rings of Saturn and Uranus. A problem with the design of the pull-up tab for Mars and Jupiter is that the flap slips too easily out of its slot. Also, the photos of Mars and Mercury have been reversed. Finally, although the order of the planets’ orbits is correct, Mercury (as represented by the erroneous picture of Mars) appears between Venus and Earth. All three of the pop-ups are somewhat delicate, so this book would best be used under teacher supervision with younger readers or with “second-law students” (those who attempt to increase disorder in the universe!). Although the content is appropriate for the middle years, the pop-ups alone could be used effectively with younger students. Highly Recommended, Grades 5-8. 2008, DK Publishing, 12pp., $24.99. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Ronald F. Smith (Science Books and Films (Vol. 45, No. 1))
ISBN: 9780756640217
ISBN: 0756640210
Deep Space Extremes
Many parts of our earth’s environment are extreme, from excessive heat and cold to rare altitudes and deep, dark oceans. This fascinating series explores the many unique features associated with these extreme environments. Each text follows a similar layout, outlined in the table of contents. The specific environment is introduced with pertinent ‘fast facts’ and questions. The second chapter contains specific information related to a particular environment; then the following chapters discuss animal and plant life, human survival, and conclude with extreme facts. Eye-catching, colourful illustrations, photographs, tables and charts abound on every page. Text is clearly presented in short paragraphs and feature boxes with titles such as “vital statistics” and “in the extreme”. There is a wealth of information, yet due to the simple, concise format, the young reader should not be overwhelmed. Pages filled with fascinating photos enhance the text, capturing the reader’s interest and imagination. Survival in space, human space flight, and alien life are the three main chapters in Deep Space Extremes. This text includes pertinent information from initial space travel to space labs and current use of satellites. This series is both enlightening and entertaining. The appealing photography and short blocks of facts make these volumes useful to both the young researcher and the casual reader. A table of contents, comprehensive glossary, index and further resources (both books and websites) is included. This set should prove to be a popular addition to an elementary school library resource centre. (Extreme Nature Series) Category: Non-Fiction Grades K-6. Thematic Links: Science; Nature; Environment; Weather; Space. Resource Links Rating: G-E (Good/Excellent), Gr. 2-6. 2009, Crabtree Publishing, 32p. Illus., Hdbk. $20.76 ea. Ages 7 to 12. Reviewer: Carolyn Cutt (Resource Links, April 2009 (Vol. 14, No. 4))
ISBN: 9780778745051
ISBN: 9780778745228
ISBN: 0778745058
Guidebook For The Scientific Traveler : Visiting Astronomy and Space Exploration Sites Across America
Duane S. Nickell.
Teachers are lifelong learners--especially when they travel. This book is a wonderful compilation of background information, facts, and helpful visitor information for more than 50 sites that are worth visiting across America. It covers everything from petroglyphs and ancient observatories to modern spaceports. This concise and complete paperback is well worth using to plan a trip or pack along. Chapters cover such topics as Native American astronomy, optical telescopes, radio telescopes, NASA and space exploration, space rocks, the top 10 “Out-of-This World” travel experiences, and (for those who believe) even a small chapter about alien-related visitor sites. Written for even the casual visitor, each chapter provides introductory information before highlighting specific sites. For each site there is interesting background information, and ”gems” about each site are also highlighted. Visiting information is given for each site, including hours of operation, admission fees, website addresses, and telephone numbers. A random survey of the websites referenced revealed them to be active and informational. The book is well organized, listing sites by state, which is a must for any traveler. Earth and space science teachers will find a permanent place for it in their bag or glove compartment. For those whose primary science interest may not be astronomy, using this guidebook will provide an increased understanding of the vast history and fascinating study of the heavens; plus it's an easy way to learn something new whenever you travel. Grades 9-College. 2008, Rutgers University Press, 256p, $21.95. Ages 14 to adult. Reviewer: Elizabeth Hayward (National Science Teachers Association (NSTA))
ISBN: 9780813543741
ISBN: 0813543746
The Handy Astronomy Answer Book
Charles Liu.
If you seek a compendium of up-to-date facts about our universe, including significant descriptions of Earth and of space exploration, this is a valuable book. The range of topics it presents is vast and comprehensive, with many fascinating informational tidbits. It even tells the Australian folktale about the Pleiades, Gemini, and the lizard men. Particularly impressive is the attention given both to very elementary astronomical concepts and to advanced and controversial observations and hypotheses The reader will be inspired to explore a huge variety of subjects in greater depth. There are some modest errors in explanations, such as saying that the eclipsed Moon appears “mostly red because that is the color of light that refracts best” (p. 189, neglecting the role of Earth’s atmospheric dust), or saying that each time a “neutron star spins around once, a pulse of radiation comes out” (p. 114), or that someone falling into a black hole “would eventually freeze, never reaching the event horizon” (p. 49). My biggest caution in using this book for teaching is that all the facts are given nearly equal weight. Thus, a student might need added assistance to figure out important fundamental relations and processes applicable in many domains. Still, many of us became scientists by learning a bunch of apparently independent facts when we were young and eventually piecing together a broader picture. So this book remains stimulating and useful, whether one dips through its pages haphazardly or reads it cover to cover to gain a protoencyclopedic view of our physical universe. Index; C.I.P. Recommended, Grades 7-12, General Audience. 2008, Visible Ink Press, xi+332pp., $21.95. Ages 12 to 18. Reviewer: Steven Kilston (Science Books and Films (Vol. 45, No. 2))
ISBN: 9781578591930
ISBN: 1578591937
The Handy Astronomy Answer Book
Charles Liu
What a super reference book! There are answers to more than 1,000 questions relating to astronomy, which includes the stars, planets, the universe, and just about anything you can imagine. The answers are written so that a non-scientist can glean some understanding, but some concepts do require a basic understanding of scientific principles. This would not be an entry level book, but something that would appeal to an older reader who hears these terms in class or in the news. In this book, the shaded questions and answers seem to be the ones that are easier to understand. The book has tabs to identify the sections—starting with astronomy fundamentals and moving on to the universe, then the galaxies and stars. It returns to something more familiar—the solar system, a large section about the Earth and Moon and another about the space programs as well as astronomy today. These chapters may be much easier for younger readers to understand, as there are questions, such as “Who was the first man in space?” “Who were the first Asian Americans in space?” “What happened when Apollo 11 reached the Moon?” and the like. Astronomy today is also filled with fascinating information about the pioneers and the types of telescopes that are looking at deep space. Exploring the solar system focuses on probes such as Helios, which explored the sun and probes that have been sent to other planets in our solar system and beyond. Take this book in small bites and savor each one, then move on to the next topic of interest. By the time you finish this feast you will have a incredible layman’s knowledge of astronomy. There is an extensive index, and more than 100 color photographs are interspersed within the questions and answers. 2008, Visible Ink Press, Ages 10 up, $21.95. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot
ISBN: 978-1-57859-193-0
ISBN: 1-57859-193-7
The Jumbo Book of Space
Cynthia Pratt Nicolson and Paulette Bourgeois
Illustrated by Bill Slavin.
The Jumbo Book of Space is composed of seven previously published books. “Exploring Space, The Stars, and Comets, Asteroids Meteorites” addresses dozens of space-related questions including: How did people first learn about space? How do rockets work? What do satellites do? How do astronauts prepare for space? How does a space probe send data to earth? Will people ever live in space? What space mysteries remain? “The Planets” offers a general overview, then the planets are discussed in detail. Each is introduced with a teaser, which grabs the reader's attention. The chapter about Venus asks, "Have you ever wished upon a star?” “The Earth” features a look at the planet upon which we live. Topics discussed include the Earth's layers, the hydrosphere, the atmosphere, seasons and weather, Earth's plants, and Earth's animals. Pages of factual prose alternate with related stories and legends and experiments for trying at home. “The Sun” combines stunning photos and bright watercolors with a clear and often humorous text to produce a lively and cohesive overview of our sun. Pieces of world mythology placed at the beginning of each chapter help young readers to understand the sun's fascinating and elusive nature throughout history. Bourgeois then builds on this information to provide facts about various solar aspects, from the sun's size to the increased use of solar energy. “The Moon” includes tales about the origins of the moon, its appearance, and its effects on the earth. Some legends, for example, offer variations on the "man in the moon" story, while scientific studies explain that the moon's dark and light spots are caused by light and shadows cast over a mountainous, flat-rock, and cratered surface. In addition to answering important questions, this book also contains interesting facts, full-color photos and illustrations, biographical information, stories/legends, a time line, a glossary and step-by-step activities such as creating a constellation, making a two-stage balloon rocket, measuring moon strength and decoding a binary message. Perfect for school projects, this book offers a well-written and informative look at space from the ground up. A glossary of terms and an index are added enticements to this title. 2007, Kids Can Press, $17.95. Ages 7 to 11. Reviewers: Debra Briatico, Wendy Pollock-Gilson. Tina Hudak, Ru Story-Huffman, Judy Katsh, Kathleen Kelly, Carol Raker Collins (Children's Literature).
The internet has done a great job of showing us the wonders of space as revealed by the Hubble Space Telescope and the pictures transmitted by the unmanned space probes sent throughout the solar system. But to reach many elementary school children, a book is needed to showcase these pictures and answer questions often posed by these students. It makes an ideal part of a station or reading corner in a classroom where Earth and space science are part of the curriculum. As the authors note, the aim of this book is to "Get down-to-earth explanations of the science behind today's space facts." It includes 18 chapters, a glossary, and an index. Each chapter is filled with photographs and illustrations of space objects and phenomena. There are many drawings of kids doing fun experiments. These include plenty of diversity as well. Each chapter has a fact section and a section describing a simple experiment. For example, there is an experiment on how to make a rainbow on a sunny day. There are five questions called space challenges scattered throughout the book, with the answers given in the back of the book. The idea of this book was to make information about space both understandable and interesting to young readers. The experiments are fun to do, requiring nothing more than easily available materials to demonstrate scientific facts. This book will be read and enjoyed by many young students. Grades 3-7. 2007, Kids Can Press, 207p, $17.95. Ages 8 to 11. Reviewer: Donald Logsdon Jr. (National Science Teachers Association (NSTA))
ISBN: 1554530202
ISBN: 9781554530205
Space
Steve Way and Gerry Bailey
Covering a wide range of science topics, the books in this series include solid, factual information presented in a user-friendly, easy-to-access style. The information is presented using cartoon-style characters, colorful images, drawings, and photographs. Complex scientific concepts are broken down and explained through everyday objects. Each book includes a limited glossary and a short quiz. This is a worthy, up-to-date series that touches the basic scientific bases from simple explanations to more sophisticated treatment. This would be an adequate addition for an outdated science collection, a teacher building a classroom collection, or a start-up library to meet the needs of beginner researchers. Index. Additional Selection. 2009, Gareth Stevens Publishing, 32pp. ea., $26 ea. lb. Ages 8 to 12. Reviewer: Anna Hartle (Library Media Connection, April 2009).
ISBN: 9780836892321
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Updated 9/30/09
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