THE SUN AND OTHER STARS

This introduction to the sun and stars is a mixture of simple text and complex ideas that are rather confusingly presented to an audience that may lack the background knowledge to truly grasp them. From solar prominences, auroras, eclipses, and the sun’s energy, to supernovas, nebulae, light years, and the color of stars and their life span, this is a starting point for young researchers. But in a work that introduces readers to the concept of the sun as a star, one would not expect to find nuclear fusion, pulsars, and apparent and absolute magnitude also discussed. Also, the simple style assumes that readers have some basic knowledge of science and space. For instance, on the first topic page, there is a sequence of illustrations that shows increasing close-ups of the Orion star group. Unfortunately, it is so poorly labeled that few children will realize this unless they are already familiar with the constellation. The format of the text is good for young readers, with its large font and prominent pictures and its use of the two-page spread to present each separate topic. The author sprinkles many different fact or question boxes throughout the text, breaking down the information to keep interest high. The text combines photographs of space with cartoon illustrations in an attempt to make the information clear to readers. However, the order of the topics is not helpful, and the overall result is confusing. For the money, there are much better volumes available. (Nonfiction. 9-11)