Older than The Stars

"gravity pulled the atoms together. It got more and more crowded. When two atoms crashed into each other, they melted together. or fused, in a burst of light and heat. The cloud became a blazing star."

This is a BEAUTIFULLY worded book about how electrons, atoms, gasses, and metals that were formed in the universe to make our earth and its organisms. This book can definitely be used in a classroom on a unit on the solar system, there is brief mention of the sun. Not to mention the super cute rhyme that builds each time a new topic is introduced. The illustrations leave something the be desired but the wording of this book is the keeper. Einstein himself said, "If you can't say it simply, you don't understand it well enough." it includes show more a very interesting timeline. This book is a MUST for general ed or science classrooms and can be learned from at ALL ages. show less

This is a book about Big Bang cosmology, solar system formation, and human evolution for young children. It's hard to imagine that such a thing could succeed, but it does. The main text is a repetitive, singsongy, catchy rhyme in the spirit of the traditional "house that Jack built" poem. The rhyme is really fun to read aloud, and a reasonably factual account of the scientific "creation story" accompanied by quirky, brightly colored graphics, with text incorporated into the artwork traveling in topsy-turvy directions, so it's a success for my preschooler.

Wow! Who would think that one could create a picture book explaining the Big Bang Theory? A good picture book. An accurate picture book. A rhyming, cumulative picture book. Karen C. Fox and illustrator Nancy Davis have done just that! Kudos!

A simple, cumulative rhyme follows the creation of the universe, "... this is the star of red-hot stuff, that burst from the gas in a giant puff, that spun from the blocks, that formed from the bits that were born in the bang, when the world began." Smaller text insets explain the concept in greater detail for older readers. A Time Line of the Universe and a Glossary are included.

Large text in a "printing" font is artfully placed on colorful, double-spread illustrations, created with "pencil, cut show more paper, and potato and eraser prints, then digitally composed." show less

Love this book! Very creative with the choice of words, illustrations, and idea. Talks about the very big question of how did the world form? Very engaging. The book gives readers facts about atoms, matter, the world, etc. Great to learn from.

This a child-friendly scientifically based explanation for how the world began invites readers on two parallel levels. In the one, the simple repetition provides entrance and rhythmic enjoyment. In the other, side text boxes offer greater depth into scientific details. At the end, a timeline and glossary add richness to the abstract, folk illustrations.

Fox starts the book from the beginning of the world and really doesn’t leave much out. She tells the story of matter and the earth in a fun way, kind of like a poem. It flows so well, page by page of fun almost comic book looking illustrations help to carry the process along.

This picture book about the Big Bang and the formation of the universe is a great introduction for elementary students. The author starts with the BANG and then describes how atoms were created and how stars (including our sun) and planets were formed. Bright illustrations interact whimsically with the text.

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