REVIEWS:

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, Margaret Chatham, formerly at Smithtown Library, N.Y.

PreSchool-Grade 6. This dazzling photo essay immerses readers in a night sky no human eye ever beheld, full of long exposure color photos and computer-enhanced pictures, to introduce the galaxies: the Milky Way and a variety of others we can…

PreSchool-Grade 6. This dazzling photo essay immerses readers in a night sky no human eye ever beheld, full of long exposure color photos and computer-enhanced pictures, to introduce the galaxies: the Milky Way and a variety of others we can detect. Simon gives a clear, sure overview of the subject, occasionally surer than the experts. In one place, he states, `The Galaxy has three spiral arms,' ignoring the mixed nature of the evidence. Galaxies and Quasars (Watts, 1987) by Heather Cooper and Nigel Henbest offers considerably more detail for grades 4 to 8, in colorful but less alluring oversize format, and with its own set of errors. Simon's Galaxies is worth having just for the inspiration.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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PUBLISHERS' WEEKLY

Like an afternoon at the planetarium watching a sky show, this is a step-by-step introduction to and description of the many galaxies in the universe. Simon, the author of many science books, uses 20 color photographs, most of which are…

Like an afternoon at the planetarium watching a sky show, this is a step-by-step introduction to and description of the many galaxies in the universe. Simon, the author of many science books, uses 20 color photographs, most of which are from the National Optical Astronomy Observatories, to accompany the text. He includes discussions of the ways in which astronomers classify galaxies, black holes, smaller satellite galaxies such as the Magellanic Clouds and supernovas. The terms are explained within the text; however, a glossary might have been a nice addition. As fascinating and accessible as this book is, with its straightforward writing, the concepts may be difficult to comprehend for some readers in the designated age group. They may gain more by sharing Simon's splendid work with adults or older siblings. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

Mr. Simon’s painstakingly selected, first-rate photographs of stars, galaxies, comets, meteors and asteroids to provide a stellar background for descriptions and analogies that transform usually difficult concepts into terms children-and adults-can easily picture. When explaining that the galaxy is mostly…

Mr. Simon's painstakingly selected, first-rate photographs of stars, galaxies, comets, meteors and asteroids to provide a stellar background for descriptions and analogies that transform usually difficult concepts into terms children-and adults-can easily picture. When explaining that the galaxy is mostly empty space, for example, Mr. Simon writes that a dozen tennis balls spread out across the U.S. would be more crowed than most of the stars in the galaxy. He brings the heavens down to earth for readers of all ages.

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