Chin, Jason. Your Place in the Universe. New York: Holiday House, 2020.
If you have kiddos that are interested in space, this is the book for them. Your Place in the Universe is all about the wonders of the size and scope of Earth, Space, Galaxies, and the Universe, and helps kids (and their grown-ups) wrap their minds around the relative size of Earth and space. It’s not an easy task, but Chin starts with the size of an eight-year-old, and compares a sequence of objects to larger and larger objects and spaces until we reach the Universe. Sound dull? It’s not. The illustrations and narrative are engaging, and the design of each page lets the reader choose how much detail is enough.
The backmatter includes an illustrated glossary, sources, and a nice variety of websites for students to visit for more information about things on Earth and in space.
Your Place in the Universe is recommended for any elementary astronomy collection and will be appealing to most K-5 students. “Really?” you ask, K-5? Yep!
Dewey: 530.8 Interest Level: PreK-Gr 5
Awards and Reviews: Booklist; Horn Book starred; Kirkus Reviews starred; Publishers Weekly starred; School Library Journal starred; Caldecott Honor; Sibert Honor; NCTE Orbis Pictus Award; Cook Prize.
Older readers might like: 2020 Guide to the Night Sky: A Month-by-Month Guide to Exploring the Skies Above North America by Storm Dunlop
Fiction Pairing: Einstein: The Fantastic Journey of a Mouse Through Space and Time by Torben Kuhlmann.
On the web:
National Geographic Kids History of Space Travel at https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/space/article/history-of-space-travel
Tour the International Space Station: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGP6Y0Pnhe4