Nonfiction- "Destination Space"

Bibliography

Simon, Seymour. Destination Space. New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2002.

Plot Summary

Seymour Simon allows the reader to view some of the amazing pictures and discoveries that have been made by the Hubble Space Telescope.  He teaches the reader about Mars, Saturn, Supernovas, the collision of galaxies, the life cycle of stars and much more.  He uses common Earth distances to try and help the reader understand what ten billion light years is.  Simon even leaves the reader with thoughts of the new discoveries yet to be made.

Critical Analysis

The pages are split with one side filled with images from the Hubble Space Telescope and the other with text.  Simon explains what the reader is seeing in these images and refers to them throughout the text.  The information in the text relates directly to the images from the Hubble Space Telescope and appears to be well researched.  The style of the book is perfect for middle school students, as it gives enough information to explain the concept on the page, but not too much to confuse the reader.  In this book there are no chapters or an index.  The pages are not even titled.  The book itself will draw interest as the pictures draw the reader in and make him or her want to investigate what he or she is looking at.   

Review Excerpts

KIRKUS REVIEWS:  “It will leave even readers who are not scientifically inclined with both a clearer understanding of modern astronomy's frontiers, and an enhanced sense of wonder at the starscape's vast, turbulent beauty.”

BOOKLIST: “An attractive, informative addition to a fine series.”

Connections

After reading “Destination Space” students could research new findings in space and create their own narrative of their findings.

This book would be a great introduction to an astronomy unit.  The students could continue with the rest of the series.