Star Stuff

October 20, 2014
Sisson’s loosely sketched mixed-media illustrations trace the life of Carl Sagan, beginning with his childhood spent in Brooklyn, an environment seemingly ill-suited to learning about the stars. Yet thanks to his natural curiosity, a visit to the World’s Fair, and the library, Sagan’s awareness of science and the universe grew. The book does, too—a spread depicting the hazy sun over Brooklyn rooftops unfolds to show it in space (“Our sun is a big ball of fiery gas held together by gravity,” Sagan learns). Sisson goes on to recap Sagan’s later endeavors, including becoming an astrophysicist, appearing on TV, and sending messages into via the twin Voyagers. A broader message about the role wonder plays in innovation resonates throughout this story, which concludes with extensive biographical and source notes. Ages 4–8. Agent: Abigail Samoun, Red Fox Literary.

Starred review from October 1, 2014
Young Carl Sagan looks endearingly like his grown-up self, with expressive dark eyebrows and a cheerful look of inquiry, in this warm account of the life of the notable scientist. Sisson captures an important moment in young Sagan's life. In a library, where he has been handed a book on stars, "Carl's heart beat faster with every page he turned." The next double-page spread offers a vertical orientation and a gatefold opening skyward, as if Carl himself were soaring into space. He imagines extraterrestrial life and space travel among the planets-and though he can't wish himself to Mars, he finds a way to get there in spirit. The text sums this up with brevity: "He studied life and space and became... / ...Dr. Carl Sagan." Sisson's economical narrative and lighthearted illustrations convey Sagan's regard for the power of imagination and his generous approach to knowledge. She includes the accomplishments for which Sagan will be remembered: his passion for science and space discovery that he shared with the world through his television appearances and the creation and launching of space missions-in particular the Voyager probes, with their recordings of Earth sounds and sights. Abundant backmatter (oddly missing Sagan's birth date) is compactly delivered in a two-page spread with a list of quotations and sources, a bibliography/resource list and an author's note. Both friendly and inspiring-just like its subject. (Picture book/biography. 4-8)

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Starred review from September 1, 2014

Gr 1-3-Told in narrative format, this beautifully designed and illustrated picture book gives readers a glimpse into the childhood wonderings Sagan experienced as he looked at the night sky and imagined the possibilities. The images are wonderfully childlike, many appearing to be chalk on a dark, night sky background. The simple but lyrical text ("Carl thought about the stars hanging down like bulbs on long black wires") conveys a dreamy, wistful quality, and the comic book-style panels and speech bubbles will keep kids intrigued as Sisson takes Sagan from an inquisitive boy to a scientist working in the field of astronomy. One particularly magnificent page should elicit gasps of awe from readers. It folds out to create a marvelous expanse that extends from a library room, where young Sagan is poring over a book about the solar system, up though the city landscape and ever upward toward the sun. Children will easily relate to and may even see themselves in Sagan's youthful exuberance. Detailed notes illustrate the solid research and facts behind the narrative. A gorgeous, informative offering for biography and science collections.-Maggie Chase, Boise State University, ID

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2014
Grades 1-3 Carl Sagan is best known for being a renowned expert on the cosmos, but he started out as just a curious kid fascinated by the night sky, and that's where Sisson starts this picture-book biography. As a boy, Carl wonders what stars are made of, and a trip to the library leads him to read, Each star is a sun, which gets him wondering about life on other planets. His youthful daydreams and doodles about space exploration grow into serious scientific inquiry in college, and soon he's designing spacecraft and sending informative greetings to life on other planets as well as hosting a TV show to share with everyone his boundless delight about our place in the universe The Earth and every living thing are made of star stuff. Sisson's cheery, painted pages, some with added-interest vertical foldoutsdepict Sagan as content and curious, and every night sky is sprinkled with colorful, beautiful stars. This paean to discovery closes with a helpful author's note and further-reading suggestions for any youngsters similarly inspired by Sagan's story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

Starred review from January 1, 2015
Beginning with the first page, Sisson showcases the magnitude of the universe, visually presenting the Milky Way and our sun's place in it. Turn the page, and readers move from our sun "in a neighborhood of stars," to our planet, to one place: Brooklyn, New York. There readers meet young Carl, curious about the world around him. As he grows, that general inquisitiveness settles into a passion and an adult craving to know more about stars and solar systems. "It gave Carl goose bumps to think about what he learned about the stars, planets, and the beginnings of life"; that "the Earth and every living thing are made of star stuff." His repeated, geeky boyhood interjection of "Wowie!" exuberantly captures that continuing wonder and passion. Illustrations with shifting perspectives portray Carl standing on a sidewalk that mimics the Earth's curvature or lying on the floor surrounded by space creatures from his imagination. A vertical foldout initially depicts Carl studying in a library; as the page opens (and Carl's knowledge increases), the universe above him expands. Sisson takes her time introducing Sagan, but as he learns more and more and his questions increase in complexity, the pace of the narrative accelerates as readers accompany him on his intellectual journey. An author's note, clarification and source notes, and a bibliography complete this out-of-this-world picture-book biography. betty carter

(Copyright 2015 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)