Have you ever wondered how a star is born?
In 1925, when she was 25 years old, astronomer and astrophysicist Cecilia Payne was the first person to discover and describe what stars are made of.
“Wrapped in a blanket of sparkling space, an unformed star waits for its bright future to begin. Deep inside, something glimmers and glows: a new light.”
This picture book biography, written by Kristen Larson, tells the story of the birth and development of a star while simultaneously telling the parallel story of Cecilia Payne’s life and discovery.
Cecilia’s story of her burning curiosity and her perseverance to study her passion at a time when women were not in sciences, is remarkable. Her discovery is beautifully juxtaposed next to bold illustrations of the possibilities in space that lead to an explosion of light.
I so appreciated the summary of Cecilia’s discovery at the end of the book, and learning how her research laid the groundwork for much of what astronomers know about how stars are born, grow old, and die. I also learned so much about the sequence of how a star is born.
If you are wanting to inspire a young person in your life to pursue their passions and curiosity, Cecilia provides a wonderful example of what can happen when you believe in yourself.
“Whose will the next discovery be?”
Helps with: curiosity, scientific exploration, understanding astronomy, star gazing, space travel, and outer space, learning about women in STEM.
Author: Kristen W. Larson
Publisher: Chronicle Books LLC, 2023