Out of This World

Children's Literature - Carol Collins

Part of the "SuperSmarts" series, this illustrated book presents a fact-filled exploration of space science. It covers interesting subjects that range from the big bang theory and black holes to space stations and space bases. The book is designed in a pleasing, entertaining, and informative manner. True-or-false questions appear at the beginning of each section with the answers tucked away behind the index. The topics (e.g., telescopes, asteroids, astronauts) of each section progress in a logical sequence and are clearly illustrated, while dynamic picture strips interweave coordinating information throughout. Some of the pictures appear to be photographs, some realistic drawings, and others comical renditions of, for example, what it would be like to meet an alien. The book is child-oriented. For example, it tells how long a tape measure would have to be to measure the universe, or it warns against going near hungry black holes while traveling in space! Kids will get a good basic understanding of where we fit in the universe, what we know about it, and what we can expect from future space probes.