The Stuff of Stars

If you haven’t read The Stuff of Stars, you must!

 

I. LOVE. THIS. BOOK!

Seriously, it is mind boggling how Marion Dane Bauer so beautifully and accurately explained the Big Bang theory with sparse, lyrical text.

But she did! Of course, if anyone could, it would be the incomparable Marion. (But oh, how I wish it had been me.)

Just listen to these incredible first few lines:

“In the dark,
in the dark,
in the deep, deep dark,
a speck floated,
invisible as thought,
weighty as God.”

As a writer, I adore the delightful rhythm and marvelous word choices. (such as “scuttling”, “hippopotami”, “flinging”)

As a scientist, it’s refreshing to read a complex topic shared in a moving, meaningful way.

The illustrations of swirling colors by Ekua Holmes are the stuff of sheer magic, imagination, and inspired creativity. I can honestly say I’ve never seen anything like them. (No wonder it earned a 2019 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award.)

I enjoyed this book immensely. Not sure why it took me so long to find it, but now that I have, I can’t seem to put it down. And I couldn’t wait to share it with all of you. I hope you enjoy The Stuff of Stars!

Suzanne Slade

Suzanne Slade is the author of more than 100 books. A mechanical engineer by degree, she enjoys writing about science topics and fascinating historical figures. Recent books include: SWISH! The Slam-Dunking, Alley-Ooping, High-Flying Harlem Globetrotters, A Computer Called Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Helped Put America on the Moon, The Daring Dozen, Countdown: 2979 Days to the Moon, Astronaut Annie, Out of School and Into Nature: The Anna Comstock Story, Dangerous Jane, The Music in George's Head: George Gershwin Creates Rhapsody in Blue, The Inventor’s Secret, and Exquisite: The Poetry and Life of Gwendolyn Brooks. Coming soon -- MARS IS, JUNE ALMEIDA VIRUS DETECTIVE! THE WOMAN WHO DISCOVERED THE FIRST HUMAN CORONAVIRUS, THE UNIVERSE AND YOU, and TBA titles from Calkins Creek, Peachtree, and Random House. Learn more about Suzanne and her books at: www.suzanneslade.com

14 Comments:

  1. Thanks for the recommendation. I’ll look for it.

  2. It is a lovely book, both text and art!

  3. I’m glad you introduced me to such a lovely book! Thank you.

  4. One of my favorite picture books this year!

  5. I had to add this to my personal library last year. It’s a beauty!

  6. Debra K Shumaker

    I definitely agree — this book is so awesome. It’s one of my favorites!

  7. This is a book I MUST see! Thank you for the elegant introduction.

  8. I LOVE this book! It’s art , it’s science. It’s for everyone. It’s a mentor text to drool over. 3 cheers to Marion Dane Bauer.

  9. I only recently discovered it as well. It is incredible–language and art. So incredible how they took such a complex topic and made it so lovely and accessible.

  10. I checked with our library in Australia and they have it! Can’t wait to read it. Thanks for the recommendation.

  11. Oooo, you’ve got me hooked! What a great introduction to what looks like an incredible book in words and art. Thanks for sharing, I can’t wait to go check it out!

  12. This looks wonderful. It combines poetry, story and illustrations. A winner for me.

  13. Suzanne, this is indeed a book to savor — both text and illustrations.

  14. I have always loved her work…just ordered it. Thank you for spotlighting it.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *