Explore the Cosmos Like Neil deGrasse Tyson: A Space Science Journey

by Cap Saucier

Overview

Catch the thrill of the cosmos and space science through the life of Neil deGrasse Tyson. The author interweaves up-to-date information about the universe and the science of astrophysics with a biographical portrait of the famous astrophysicist. Quotes from Tyson appear throughout each chapter, personalizing the science. Illustrated with striking images from the Hubble Space Telescope, the story of one man's successful life in space science may inspire kids to follow a similar path. As Tyson makes clear, there is still much to do for future space scientists: diverting asteroids, unraveling the mystery of dark matter, finding life elsewhere in the universe, and more!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633880146
Publisher:	Prometheus Books
Publication date:	03/03/2015
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	658,105
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

CAP Saucier is the author of The Lucy Man: The Scientist Who Found the Most Famous Fossil Ever! She is also a freelance artist, illustrator, and writer.

Editorial Reviews

12/22/2014
This hybrid combines a biography of prominent astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson with an introduction to the study of physics and the cosmos. In addition to covering Tyson’s childhood, adolescence, education, and work, Saucier delves into the social climate of his upbringing: “People often wonder why Neil did not try to be an astronaut. In the 1960s, astronauts were all white men with crew cuts. There were no women or black astronauts.” Oddly, while Saucier met with Tyson while writing the book, she often eschews direct quotes in favor of awkward paraphrases (“Neil’s favorite blues performer is Buddy Guy because Neil really can feel what Buddy is singing”). Profiles of scientists that informed Tyson’s work are interspersed, as are varied topics in astrophysics, but inelegant prose lets down this effort. A glossary and source notes are included. Ages 8–12. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

""From the big bang to the formation of planets, this book delightfully weaves together the story of modern astronomy with the life story of how a young African American inner-city kid grew up to be one of the most recognized and influential personalities in all of science." --Henry Ferguson, astronomer, the Space Telescope Science Institute "Neil deGrasse Tyson is one of those rare scientists who is a household name--and for good reason. His larger-than-life personality and passion for unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos compel us to marvel at the world around us. Saucier trains her lens on 'the universe within' the great astrophysicist and popularizer, and the result is as fun as it is educational. From Tyson's boyhood observations of the night sky from the rooftop of his family's New York City apartment to his research into how galaxies form, Saucier charts the meteoric rise of a man who reached for the stars--and caught them." --Kate Wong, Scientific American Praise for The Lucy Man: The Scientist Who Found the Most Famous Fossil Ever! "Engaging and well-illustrated... it will hopefully inspire young readers to become evolutionary biologists and to go out and make their own important discoveries." -Quarterly Review of Biology "This book should give anyone, expert or beginner, a better appreciation of [Johanson] and his work. It would make a fine gift to a young aspiring fossil-hunter and a worthy addition to any school library." -National Center for Science Education Reports "Any youngster showing an interest in such things will be immersed for hours in this book." -Bookviews "This handy little book delves into the basic science of human evolution... Saucier breaks down a difficult subject into an easily digestible format... We expect to see more from this author in the near future." -Sacramento Book Review "This book would be a wonderful supplement for a child who has had both theories removed from the school curriculum. Readers will feel like they were part of that fateful dig and will be able to sense the excitement felt when Lucy was found." -Portland Book Review

From the Publisher

02/01/2015
Gr 5–8—Combining biographical information about Neil deGrasse Tyson, the popular American astrophysicist, with an exploration of space science, this work seeks to interest middle school readers in both. Tyson's fascination with the universe came early, and his enthusiasm is exhilarating and contagious. His many quotes frame the chapters on familiar planets and the farther, less familiar outer reaches of space. Up-to-date information culled from unmanned space probes makes this work useful for research. However, the organization of the material, interspersing biographical tidbits with astronomical data, results in an often confusing reading experience. The author's habit of referring to Tyson by his first name and including comments about his opinions on music, films, and wine, as well as other fascinating but irrelevant facts, dilute interest in the cosmos-related material. A good bibliography and glossary will help those doing school reports, and the chapter notes are often beneficial. VERDICT Of value for curriculum-related research.—Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, Pawling, NY

School Library Journal

2014-12-06
A tour of the solar system and the cosmos beyond, with a celebrity guide standing by.Saucier opens with two chapters of biography and later shoehorns in a third. Forcibly interspersed are capsule histories of astronomy and the universe, discussions of galaxy and star types, a progression past our astronomical neighbors from the sun to the Oort cloud, and a final omnium-gatherum look at exoplanets, asteroid impacts on Earth and like matters of current interest. Tyson's role in all this is to be paraphrased, often inanely: "Neil reassures us that dark matter does not interfere with Earth or humans as we move around on our planet's surface"; "Neil hopes Earth does not end up like Venus…." Not only is the narrative further hampered by clumsy prose, but the author leaves indigo out of the visible spectrum, makes conflicting claims about whether or not Ceres is the only round asteroid, and confusingly asserts that Saturn's "surface" (which it doesn't have, at least not a solid one) is less colorful than Jupiter's due to "a thick layer of clouds" (as if Jupiter lacks the same). Though sometimes misplaced, the many photos, both of space taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and of Tyson at various ages, are a plus but can't compensate for the book's many liabilities. Better ventures into the high frontier abound—and so do better profiles of our leading living science popularizer. (notes, glossary, bibliography, no index) (Nonfiction. 11-13)

Kirkus Reviews