A poetic picture book celebration of the life and scientific discoveries of groundbreaking astronomer Cecilia Payne!
Astronomer and astrophysicist Cecilia Payne was the first person to discover what burns at the heart of stars. But she didn't start out as the groundbreaking scientist she would eventually become. She started out as a girl burning with curiosity, chasing the thrilling lightning bolt of discovery, hoping one day to unlock the mysteries of the universe.
With lyrical, evocative text by Kirsten W. Larson and extraordinary illustrations by award-winning illustrator Katherine Roy, this moving biography powerfully parallels the kindling of Cecilia Payne's own curiosity and her scientific career with the process of a star's birth, from mere possibility in an expanse of space to an eventual, breathtaking explosion of light.
A poetic picture book celebration of the life and scientific discoveries of groundbreaking astronomer Cecilia Payne!
Astronomer and astrophysicist Cecilia Payne was the first person to discover what burns at the heart of stars. But she didn't start out as the groundbreaking scientist she would eventually become. She started out as a girl burning with curiosity, chasing the thrilling lightning bolt of discovery, hoping one day to unlock the mysteries of the universe.
With lyrical, evocative text by Kirsten W. Larson and extraordinary illustrations by award-winning illustrator Katherine Roy, this moving biography powerfully parallels the kindling of Cecilia Payne's own curiosity and her scientific career with the process of a star's birth, from mere possibility in an expanse of space to an eventual, breathtaking explosion of light.
Kirsten W. Larson used to work with rocket scientists at NASA. Now
she writes books for curious kids. She is the author of Wood, Wire,
Wings: Emma Lilian Todd Invents an Airplane (Calkins Creek) and A
True Wonder: The Comic Book Hero Who Changed Everything (Clarion
Books), along with several forthcoming titles. She lives near Los
Angeles, California, with her family. Find her online at
kirsten-w-larson.com and social media @kirstenwlarson.
Katherine Royis the award-winning author and illustrator of many
science-based books for kids, including her Sibert Honor book
Neighborhood Sharks: Hunting with the Great Whites of California's
Farallon Islands and How to Be an Elephant: Growing Up in the
African Wild . She is also the illustrator of Otis and Will
Discover the Deep: The Record-Setting Dive of the Bathysphere and
of Red Rover: Curiosity on Mars . She lives with her husband and
sons in Oregon, where she loves gazing up at the stars. You can
visit her online at www.katherineroy.com .
A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of 2023
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2023
A 2023 Good Housekeeping Kids Book Award Winner
"Kirsten Larson deftly weaves together her compelling biography of
an important woman who "stick[s] to her path" despite the odds. The
decision to parallel Cecilia's development with that of an emerging
star is an inspired one, and Katherine Roy uses pencil, ink and
digital color to create luminous illustrations that crackle with
energy." -- Shelf Awareness, starred review
"[M]akes a good addition to the astronomy shelves." -- Booklist
"A stellar subject, breathtaking artwork, and unique layout set
this biography for young readers apart from the rest." -- School
Library Journal, starred review
"Marrying format, language, and subject, Larson conscientiously
emphasizes Payne's accomplishments. Taking place alongside inky
interstellar sidebar views, accompanying pencil and ink
illustrations by Roy glow..." -- Publishers Weekly, starred
review
"A luminous thematic pairing." -- Kirkus, starred review
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