Astronomy for Young and Old

Gr 6 Up—First published in German in 2004, this outstanding introduction to astronomy has fortunately found its way across the Atlantic at last. As the title suggests, this is an exploration of the subject for all ages and even all ranges of fluency. The book is broken down into four parts: the stars, the sun, the moon, and planets (comets and meteors included). Each section diligently dissects the topic at hand, and hardly a page goes by without a beautifully crafted, colorful illustration. From the rotation of the Earth to a constellation map to an image illustrating the spring equinox, the images help this book truly stand out. End of chapter summations synthesizes the material. Though there is no glossary, there is a list of further reading and resources that will undoubtedly come in handy. There's plenty of material here; those looking for quick, browsable nonfiction should steer clear. Though at times the tone is textbooklike, there is little that will bore astronomy enthusiasts. Students will appreciate this book for both its simplicity and depth, and so will more than a few adults. Reach for the stars, and add this one to nonfiction collections.—Keith Klang, Port Washington Public Library, NY