A Few Beautiful Minutes: Experiencing a Solar Eclipse

by Kate Allen Fox, Khoa Le (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

With resonant themes that remind young readers about human connection and our place in the universe, this celebration of the natural wonder of a solar eclipse is a rewarding reading experience.

A poetic and exquisitely illustrated tribute to the solar eclipse and the magic of togetherness, seen through the eyes of a child.​

What happens during a solar eclipse? The sun vanishes. Light becomes dark. Day animals sleep, and night animals wake. The moon takes over the sky. People stop what they’re doing and together, they look up. The whole world changes for a few beautiful minutes.

Celebrating a favorite wonder of the universe, A Few Beautiful Minutes encourages young readers to (safely) discover each stage of a solar eclipse, and to experience how this incredible phenomenon can connect us to one another.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316416924
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	09/26/2023
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	275,530
Product dimensions:	8.70(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Kate Allen Fox is the author of Pando: The Living Wonder of Trees, and her essays have appeared in The New York Times and McSweeney’s. After working in public health, she combined her passions for science and the written word and began writing picture books that inspire wonder and curiosity about the natural world. She invites you to visit her online at kateallenfox.com or on Twitter @kateallenfox.
 
Khoa Le has illustrated numerous picture books, including Beatrice Likes the Dark, The Most Beautiful Thing, Sugar in Milk, and the Sydney Taylor Honor book Miriam at the River, among others. She is also an author, a graphic designer, and a painter. Khoa has a passion for travel, an eagerness to learn about different cultures, and a desire to discover the beauty of the world. She lives in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and invites you to visit her online at khoaleartwork.com or on Instagram @khoa.le.artwork.

Editorial Reviews

★ 09/18/2023

Fox pens an ode to a total solar eclipse, a moment when the moon “steal the sun’s glory/ ...for a few beautiful minutes.” Le creates vignettes of children of varying skin tones making paper sun viewers that will allow them to safely regard the eclipse, as well as sweeping landscapes from which many species encounter the spectacle. As the sky darkens, wild creatures behave instinctively (“Birds roost for the night/ as crickets and bats wake”). And during the total eclipse, delicate filaments of energy radiate from the sun—the corona’s “lightning-like tentacles.” One spread zooms in from a crowd scene to a single pale-skinned child, who radiates their own filaments of energy: “one/ tiny/ precious.../ you.” The miracle of the eclipse and the miracle of existence are drawn together in this title about the unifying power of coming “face-to-face with the splendor of the universe.” Back matter includes instructions for constructing a sun viewer. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

A Chicago Public Library Best Informational Book for Young Readers
An NCTE Notable Children’s Books in the Language Arts Award Book

* "Rich, poetic language explains the process of a total solar eclipse and ponders its effects on the living creatures below.... The meditative verse offers enough factual information and terminology to make this an excellent choice for a science lesson.... Like a solar eclipse, this theatrical work of nonfiction is not to be missed."
 —Kirkus, starred review

* "The miracle of the eclipse and the miracle of existence are drawn together in this title about the unifying power of coming 'face-to-face with the splendor of the universe.'"—Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Fox deftly captures the anticipation of such a colossal event and the way it can make a person feel both small and a part of something big at the same time.... Le's digital illustrations are wonderfully ethereal, with deep pinks and dreamy blues, and reminiscent of watercolor painting.... This nonfiction story will pique a child's curiosity, leaving them to ponder their place in the universe."—BCCB

"Artful poetry and bold artwork combine in this warm and inviting exploration of a total solar eclipse.... This thoughtful and gracefully illustrated picture book is a strong choice that brings together the entrancing nature of eclipses and the facts surrounding the extraordinary event."—Booklist

"In a blend of science and art, this book succeeds in making the complex accessible and extraordinarily relatable, making it a valuable addition to any collection’s astronomy shelves."—School Library Journal

"Kate Allen Fox’s gentle prose and Khoa Lee’s gorgeous, nature-focused illustrations can help us all appreciate this phenomenon with fresh eyes."—Atlas Obscura

From the Publisher

11/10/2023

Gr 1–3—An overview of the phenomenon known as a total solar eclipse. The book not only delves into the scientific aspects but also provides a step-by-step guide for DIY enthusiasts to create their own sun viewer, enhancing readers' safe interactions with the event. What truly sets this book apart is its captivating illustrations. The vivid watercolor imagery captures the awe-inspiring transformation of the environment during the eclipse. The contrasting dark and bright colors create a dynamic portrayal of this celestial dance, offering a genuine and immersive experience for the readers. The fluidity of the artwork evokes the real-time changes during an eclipse, making it a visual delight. Moreover, the inclusion of diverse characters emphasizes the universal impact of an eclipse. It highlights how this natural phenomenon transcends boundaries and affects people worldwide, fostering a sense of unity and shared wonder. VERDICT In a blend of science and art, this book succeeds in making the complex accessible and extraordinarily relatable, making it a valuable addition to any collection's astronomy shelves.—Jessica Calaway

School Library Journal

★ 2023-06-21
Rich, poetic language explains the process of a total solar eclipse and ponders its effects on the living creatures below.

With a sweeping sense of scope and scale, the author presents the solar eclipse as a luminous stage show that humans are occasionally privileged to view, a part of a dazzling cycle that’s played out for millennia. The meditative verse offers enough factual information and terminology to make this an excellent choice for a science lesson, with readers gaining a solid sense of exactly what happens during the eclipse, especially when the text is combined with the clear and well-sourced backmatter. But at its heart, this is a story about the shared bonds of humanity, and Fox makes this grandiose cosmic event feel intimate and immediate. Jewel-toned illustrations depict racially diverse characters joyfully gathering together as communities, watching with family and neighbors from beaches and parks. As the moon makes its move “into the spotlight,” the paper-doll–like characters watching the eclipse are left bonded: “Once strangers, now we are friends.” Especially effective are the incandescent double-page spreads showing the moving celestial bodies. Lush turns of phrase such as a vast sky “velvet panorama” are captivating to read aloud, while the repetitive refrain “a few beautiful minutes”—referring to the brief length of time of an eclipse—anchors the experience. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Like a solar eclipse, this theatrical work of nonfiction is not to be missed. (information on solar eclipses, selected resources, timeline of an eclipse, instructions on building a sun viewer) (Informational picture book. 6-12)

Kirkus Reviews