Professor Astro Cat's Frontiers of Space by Dr. Dominic Walliman, designed and illustrated by Ben Newman. Flying Eye Books, 2013. |
This is an amazing book.
I have wanted to get my hands on this book for months. There was a lovely feature on Brain Droppings back in September. Maria Popova's review, coupled with some other great book recommendations, were enough to have me on board, but the pictures! Gorgeous mid-century-inspired illustrations! Nobrow / Flying Eye Books are behind some of my favorite books of recent years, including the marvelous Hildafolk series. I've come to trust their taste and judgment.
Alas, my library never got this one. I finally got sick of waiting for it, and placed my very first inter-library loan. Thank you, libraries!
The author, Dr. Dominic Walliman, has a PhD in quantum device physics. In other words, he is very qualified to write a children's book about all aspects of space: the universe, the Big Bang, the birth and death of stars, galaxies, constellations, the sun, the solar system, the moon and other satellites, space travel (history, present, and future), rockets, telescopes, the possibility of life on other planets... Yes, all of these things are covered in this book.
All explained to you by a very groovy cat.
What's not to love?
This is the "all things space" book I've been waiting for. Someone is getting this for her birthday this year. Considering how overwhelmed I get when it comes to "Big Questions," it might as well be me. My birthday is next month anyway.
Read the fact above. Mindblowing.
It's all highly readable and engaging, too, especially older elementary-aged kiddos. It's even sold via the Smithsonian website, I noticed.
You can see more photos at Nobrow Press.
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