Most historic events are rather momentary in the grand scheme of things, lived in seconds, minutes or years, significant to the people who lived and experienced the moment directly and sometimes indirectly. The nature of human development is to constantly move forward with past events becoming decayed and eventually - at least mostly - forgotten. There are exceptions to this roll out of events, and what happens in space is probably the greatest example. With stellar events taking place over hundreds of years, the impact can be observed by humans over the span of many generations. This is the case in the story of the Supernova of 1054 in James Gladstone’s book, “A Star Explodes”. Yaara Eshet’s illustrations of historical periods are well-presented in colourful and inviting images. Taking readers on a tour around the world and through time, we see the developing understanding of the Crab Nebula, the result of the Supernova. An accessible book for younger and older children alike.


Teacher Tips

* Connections between science and history.

* Learn about Supernovae and Nebulae - use this story as a springboard

* Learn about Ancient Civilisations’ astronomy knowledge and techniques.

I read the book to evaluate whether this would be a good purchase for my children's nonfiction collection. Overall, the book provides an interesting narrative discussion of the supernova and the Crab Nebula but it's really the explanations of the supernova and the Crab Nebula in the back that really provide the informational context. I'm not sure who the intended audience is (parents reading to their kids? younger readers learning about these topics?).. I may buy the book, pending journal reviews.

Starry, starry night... If you have ever wondered about a star in the night sky, this story is for you. When we see a star, we learn that it is the light from a great distance in time and space that's actually visible to us. This story traces that light over thousands of years as scientific understanding evolves from the first sighting in 1054. Where does the light come from? What more do we learn over time? What is still to be learned from studying the stars?

In clear, simple language, the tale is told linking events light years away with what we can see in our sky today. The illustrations contribute to the telling of the tale inviting readers to join with other stargazers who also wonder about the lights that we can still see... on a clear, dark night. Notes with additional details on the celestial phenomenon will satisfy the curiosity of inquisitive young readers and listeners.