UNIVERSAL GUIDE TO THE NIGHT SKY, by Lisa Harvey Smith and Sophie Beer, Thames & Hudson, Feb. 13, 2024, Paperback $19.95 (ages 8 and up)
Astrophysicist Lisa Harvey-Smith introduces readers to wonders beyond our planet in Universal Guide to the Night Sky.
In this illustrated guide, award-winning astrophysicist Lisa Harvey-Smith (The Secret Life of Stars) introduces young readers (and their parents) to stars, planets, moons, comets, and many other amazing celestial wonders that can be seen from Earth. The book’s chapters explain the Earth’s orbit around the Sun; the phases of the moon; what makes up comets; and how the Sun interacts with planets, moons, and our atmosphere.
Budding stargazers learn how to use star maps and stargazing apps, how to get their bearings by identifying key constellations, and how to make use of binoculars and telescopes. It offers tips on how to take clear photographs of the Moon and observe a meteor shower, spot satellites and watch a rocket launch into space. —Synopsis provided by Thames & Hudson
If you’ve got a kid in your house that loves anything to do with space, then The Universal Guide to the Night Sky will make a nice addition to their library.
At 147 pages, this book won’t overwhelm more reluctant readers and will be a good fit for stronger readers younger than the publisher’s suggested age of 8 and up. It features 11 highly illustrated chapters that are section off into easily digestible nuggets of information. Notes for the interested reader, a list of resources, a glossary and index are also included.
I gave Universal Guide to the Night Sky to my 10-year-old to peruse, and she won’t give it back. It’s a good companion to some of her other favorite books about space.
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