Bibliography
Simon, Seymour. 1998. The Universe. New York: Harper Collins.
Plot Summary
Award winning author, Seymour Simon explores the universe from the stars to the mysterious black holes. The Universe covers concepts such as The Big Bang theory, defines light year and gives an example, explains the different types of galaxies and gives a brief overview of the planets in our solar system. Readers are left wondering if life exists on planets in distant solar systems
Critical Analysis
Seymour Simon has written a great book about the universe and all that is included. An introduction by Roger D. Launius of the National Air and Space Museum and a mission statement from The Smithsonian appear and provide proof that the information provided in this book is “supported by authoritative scholarship.” In additon, Simon provides a glossary of terms, an index and list of website for more information. Simon is well known for his many nonfiction books for children and continues to write accurate accounts of science concepts. Simon explains difficult concepts in a way that is easy to understand. For example, in an attempt to explain the universe, he gives an example of what an address might look like if someone were mailing you a letter from a distant galaxy. No zip code is available but he suggests the symbol for infinity could be used since the universe goes on forever. Simon organized the book in terms of greatest to least. He begins with information about the universe then moves on to smaller concepts such as the galaxy, solar system and the planets. One note about the information on planets: Pluto is still refered to as a planet in this book. The copyright date indicates that the book was published in 1998 prior to the change in Pluto's status. He then explains concepts such as the types of galaxies, nebulas, different classes of stars and theories about black holes. The design of the book is inviting to readers of all ages. The photography grabs your attention and adds beauty to the book. However, one particular illustration that shows a spiral of dust and gases being sucked into a black hole is a confusing. Simon clearly states that it is a drawing, but it looks like all of the photographs. When reading this book aloud to children, it is important for them to realize that is an artist’s idea of what a black hole might look like instead of an actual photograph. Photographs of nebula, stars, and galaxies are beautiful and help readers understand space better. Simon’s style is engaging and leads reader to think about the topic in new ways. The use of vocabulary is appropriate for all ages but lends particularly well to middle school students. The concepts and theories presented in this book are taught in science classrooms. However, when reading the book there does not seem to be any indication that these are truly theories and not truth. It is important to help students understand that theories can and should be challenged.
Seymour Simon has written a great book about the universe and all that is included. An introduction by Roger D. Launius of the National Air and Space Museum and a mission statement from The Smithsonian appear and provide proof that the information provided in this book is “supported by authoritative scholarship.” In additon, Simon provides a glossary of terms, an index and list of website for more information. Simon is well known for his many nonfiction books for children and continues to write accurate accounts of science concepts. Simon explains difficult concepts in a way that is easy to understand. For example, in an attempt to explain the universe, he gives an example of what an address might look like if someone were mailing you a letter from a distant galaxy. No zip code is available but he suggests the symbol for infinity could be used since the universe goes on forever. Simon organized the book in terms of greatest to least. He begins with information about the universe then moves on to smaller concepts such as the galaxy, solar system and the planets. One note about the information on planets: Pluto is still refered to as a planet in this book. The copyright date indicates that the book was published in 1998 prior to the change in Pluto's status. He then explains concepts such as the types of galaxies, nebulas, different classes of stars and theories about black holes. The design of the book is inviting to readers of all ages. The photography grabs your attention and adds beauty to the book. However, one particular illustration that shows a spiral of dust and gases being sucked into a black hole is a confusing. Simon clearly states that it is a drawing, but it looks like all of the photographs. When reading this book aloud to children, it is important for them to realize that is an artist’s idea of what a black hole might look like instead of an actual photograph. Photographs of nebula, stars, and galaxies are beautiful and help readers understand space better. Simon’s style is engaging and leads reader to think about the topic in new ways. The use of vocabulary is appropriate for all ages but lends particularly well to middle school students. The concepts and theories presented in this book are taught in science classrooms. However, when reading the book there does not seem to be any indication that these are truly theories and not truth. It is important to help students understand that theories can and should be challenged.
Review Excerpts
Horn Book
This quick tour of the universe stops at galaxies, the solar system (Pluto is still labeled a planet), nebulas, and quasars. Although the theories tend to be overstated, Simon has a unique ability to make the big and vast tangible and real. Full-page light and radio telescope images are fittingly set against white text on a black, space-like background.
School Library Journal
Simon offers what amounts to an introduction to his long running, literally and figuratively stellar series of photo-essays on matters astronomical. Matching full-color, full- and double-page-spread-sized light and radio photographs of nebulas, galaxies, and sundry deep-space phenomena with two or three paragraphs of explanatory text, he covers a wide range of topics, from the Big Bang to quasars, from star formation to extrasolar planets. Care has been taken to keep the pictures and related text close together, and the choice of detail is guaranteed to whet youngster's appetites for a more thorough, narrowly focused treatment. Asking some of the Big Questions:"Does life exist on earth-like planets in distant solar systems? Will the universe expand forever or finally stop and then collapse into a gigantic black hole?" Simon writes that "we are just at the beginning of a golden age of discovery."
Connections
This book directly deals with the Texas Essesntial Knowledge and Skill for 8th grade.
Eight Grade Science TEKS:
8.14 A: Describe characteristics of the universe such as stars and galaxies.
8.14 B: Explain the use of light-years to describe distances in the universe.
8.14 C: Research and describe historical scientific theories of the origin of the universe
Each of these TEKS is covered in this book. It is an excellent book to use to introduce students to these concepts.
Key Words/Vocabulary: atom, black hole, cosmic, gravity, light-year, matter, nebular, particle, quasar, red giant, Big Bang, universe, star, galaxy, spiral galaxy, elliptical galaxy, barred spirals, irregular-shaped galaxies, radio telescope, optical telescope, Hubble telescope
Author's Website: http://www.seymourscience.com/
European Space Agency Website offeres games, downloads and tons of information about all things in space: http://www.esa.int/esaKIDSen/SEMSZ5WJD1E_OurUniverse_0.html
PBS Deep Space : http://www.pbs.org/deepspace/timeline/index.html
More Seymour Simon books about space:
Stars ISBN: 0060890010
Our Solar System ISBN: 0061140082
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