'Starry Messenger' by Peter Sis is a unique biography of Galileo Galilei. Through this book's captivating illustrations and text, the author connects with a variety of readers. The basic text is written in such a way that the very young reader will learn about the amazing life of Galileo; the courageous mathematician, astronomer, philosopher, and physicist. However, due to the author's decorative inclusion of Galileo's own words and detailed fact-filled illustrations, Sis enables the more advanced reader to find this book equally fascinating. Read how one man's search for the truth changed the way that people looked at the stars.

Similar authors: Paul Hightower; Jacqueline Mitton; Rachel Hilliam

Similar books: The Tree of Life: A Book Depicting the Life of Charels Darwin, Naturalist, Geologist and Thinker by Peter Sis; Play Mozart, Play by Peter Sis; Follow the Dream by Peter Sis

Awards won: Caldecott Honor 1997

Reviewed by: mb

Date read: 7/14/2010

ISBN-10: 0374371911

ISBN-13: 9780374371913

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Robert, an Italian boy living in Venice, happens to go to the movies just before Nazis invade the theater, and send the audience to cruel work camps. He, and his best friend, Samuele, endure the hardships of the camp, while dreaming of escape. The sequel is Fire in the Hills.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/13/2009

ISBN-10: 0525458425

ISBN-13: 9780525458425

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This is unlike most tales of orphans. Cirrus Flux doesn't have a number like the others at the foundling hospital and it appears that he also gets a few priviledges the others do not. Yet Cirrus is loyal to a fault. One night, a girl enters the boy's dormitory, wakes Cirrus and implores him to follow her just moments before an evil visitor gets her hands on him. His escape is just the beginning of one perilous adventure after another. Cirrus is so bewildered by the growing number of adults who want something from him and when he discovers the sphere left to him by his father is what everyone seeks - he must not only protect the sphere, he must run for his very life.

Reviewed by: adf

Date read: 9/11/2010

ISBN-10: 038573381X

ISBN-13: 9780385733816

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Did you know that people have wanted to fly every since they first noticed birds in the sky? As early as 1487, Leonardo DaVinci designed a flying machine on paper, although it was never tried out. The first flying machines were gliders, but many of these crashed. The Wright brothers were the first to build an airplane, which they based on their knowledge of how bicycles worked. Since then, many other flying machines have been built, including helicopters strong enough to lift a house. This book includes many surprising facts about the people who came before, and directly after, the Wright brothers. Some flying machines have never been seen again after their first attempts. The entire history of flying is here, from Leonardo to space flight, written in the form of a chapter book. This book is part of the Usborne Young Reading series.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 4/14/2009

ISBN-10: 0794507050

ISBN-13: 9780794507053

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Get ready for an amazing journey through time that explores familiar events, as well as the unusual in a most interesting and engaging way. History comes alive with the Greeks and the Romans, on a crusade, or in battle with Napoleon. You also travel all over the world and experience what it was like then and there. A good read and the first book to receive the Newbery Award in 1922. The book was updated by the author's son, Gerard Willem van Loon, taking the story from 'The United States Comes of Age' through 'A Turbulent Peace'. An additional revision continues the story through 'The Earth as a Global Village.' The book concludes with an animated chronology in graphic novel fashion.

Awards won: John Newbery Medal

Reviewed by: adf

Date read: 6/23/2010

ISBN-10: 0871401711

ISBN-13: 9780871401717

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