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Children's Nonfiction Astronomy

The Jumbo Book of Space

by (author) Cynthia Pratt Nicolson & Paulette Bourgeois

illustrated by Bill Slavin

Publisher
Kids Can Press
Initial publish date
Mar 2007
Category
Astronomy
Recommended Age
8 to 12
Recommended Grade
3
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781554530205
    Publish Date
    Mar 2007
    List Price
    $18.95

Classroom Resources

Where to buy it

Description

For thousands of years, people have looked up and wondered about the mysteries of space. Why does the sun shine? How big is our solar system? Where do comets come from? How far away are the stars? This Jumbo Book answers these and many other questions to reveal the secrets of the universe. Travel back in time with space stories from the past. Get down-to-earth explanations of the science behind today's space facts. And learn about the latest discoveries in the ongoing exploration of space. Prepare for a thrilling voyage to the stars and beyond! Find out how to * make your own telescope * make a two-stage balloon rocket * make moon craters * look at the sun safely * cook with the sun's rays

About the authors

Cynthia Pratt Nicolson is a teacher and an award-winning children’s author who has written several non-fiction books, including The Stars and The Planets. She lives on Bowen Island, British Columbia.

Cynthia Pratt Nicolson's profile page

Paulette Bourgeois est l'auteure des albums mettant en vedette Benjamin la tortue. Traduites dans 38 langues, les aventures de Benjamin se sont vendues à plus de 60 millions d'exemplaires à travers le monde! Benjamin et la Saint-Valentin a remporté la troisième position au palmarès Communication-Jeunesse des livres pour les jeunes.

 

When asked what she hopes children will learn from her books, Paulette Bourgeois explains: "It is most important to look for the wonder in ordinary things." Some of this wonder, and a curious anxiety, spill over into her character Franklin. The world's best-loved turtle overcomes the challenges of the everyday life of a five-year-old in a way that resonates with children. Since 1986, Franklin and Paulette have championed a fear of the dark, boastful fibs, thunderstorms, new friends, museum dinosaurs,...
When Paulette finished writing her first book, Franklin in the Dark, she knew that she would always write stories for children. With each new book, she imagines a child turning the last page and giving a satisfied sigh. Paulette explains: "I want readers to feel connected to my storybook world - to feel, to smell, to touch and to explore the landscapes, both internal and external, that I have created. As I write, I draw on my own experiences and find it easy to remember emotions and situations."
Although Paulette is best-known for the Franklin books, she is also the writer of fiction and non-fiction for young readers. In her non-fiction writing, she explores another realm of wonders with her young readers. She shares "amazing" information on many topics: from apples to potatoes; from fire fighters to Garbage Collectors; from the moon to the sun! What's next, the universe! The Sun: Starting with Space was shortlisted for a Science in Society Book Award (1995), given by the Canadian Science Writer's Association, and won the honor of Parents' Choice Approval, given by the US Parents' Choice Foundation (1997).
Currently, Paulette is endeavoring to write longer books for children, and trying to follow the advice she gives to children: "Read, read, read and write, write, write."

Paulette Bourgeois' profile page

Multiple award winning illustrator Bill Slavin was born in Belleville, Ontario. His work includes the acclaimed 'Stanley's Party' written by Linda Bailey, 'Who Broke the teapot!' as well as more than 100 award winning children's books.
Among his many honours, Bill has won the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award, the Blue Spruce Award, the California Young Reader Medal and the Zena Sutherland Award for Children's Literature. Recently, he has returned to his childhood love of comics and graphic novels, writing and illustrating the graphic novel trilogy Elephants Never Forget, as now the Mordecai Crow trilogy. Quid Pro Crow is Bil's second book with Renegade Arts Entertainment.

Bill Slavin's profile page

Editorial Reviews

Kids Can Press publishes the best Canadian non-fiction titles around and this book is no exception.

[T]his book about space is as well organized and thorough in its treatment of the material as we have come to expect form this series. Additionally, Bill Slavin’s playful illustrations, always welcome anywhere, give a jaunty, insouciant air to the book, nicely lightening its load of information — Stories or legends about various heavenly bodies, simple experiments — and a useful glossary add to this book’s usefulness and its enjoyment quotient.

Librarian Reviews

The Jumbo Book of Space (Jumbo Books)

This book shows budding astronauts the secrets of the universe, teaches them about the latest discoveries in space exploration, and more. Thirty-nine outof- this-world activities, glossary and index included. Compilation of the following books: The Sun, The Moon, The Earth, The Stars, The Planets, Comets, Asteroids and Meteorites and Exploring Space.

Source: The Canadian Children’s Book Centre. Best Books for Kids & Teens. 2008.

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