A poetic picture book celebration of the life and scientific discoveries of groundbreaking astronomer Cecilia Payne! Astronomer and astrophysicist Cecilia Payne was the first person to discover what burns at the heart of stars. But she didn't start out as the groundbreaking scientist she would eventually become. She started out as a girl burning with curiosity, chasing the thrilling lightning bolt of discovery, hoping one day to unlock the mysteries of the universe.
With lyrical, evocative text by Kirsten W. Larson and extraordinary illustrations by award-winning illustrator Katherine Roy, this moving biography powerfully parallels the kindling of Cecilia Payne's own curiosity and her scientific career with the process ofa star's birth, from mere possibility in an expanse of space to aneventual, breathtaking explosion of light.
More information about Cecilia Payne, with photograph. “A Star Is Born.” Time line. Bibliography. Full-color illustrations were rendered in pencil and walnut ink with added digital color.
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Gr 2–6—A stellar subject, breathtaking artwork, and unique layout set this biography for young readers apart from the rest. It begins with two births: one of a young Cecilia Payne, toddling in the English countryside; and the other of a star, sleeping quietly in space. As the parallel stories progress, Payne grows into a Harvard-trained astrophysicist who isn't daunted by a scientific community that's largely male and reluctant to include her. Meanwhile, the star slowly develops and bursts into bright, blinding life. Back matter includes a time line of Payne's life and how her work changed modern astronomy, along with a fascinating and detailed look at how stars are born, grow old, and die. Payne's hard work, passion, curiosity, and self-belief shine through in this story and will inspire readers to persist in their own pursuits, whatever they may be. VERDICT Recommended for all collections.—Amy Fellows