By Lauren Martino, Head of Children’s Services at the Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Branch of Montgomery County Public Libraries
A total solar eclipse will cast a 70-mile-wide shadow across parts of the United States early this April. You can celebrate the partial eclipse that will be visible in the DMV by checking out a few of these books that explore the sky—and the wonder, terror and possibilities that lay beyond.
“A Few Beautiful Minutes: Experiencing a Solar Eclipse”
by Kate Allen Fox, illustrated by Khoa Le
For those few beautiful minutes, all is connected. The moon is crowned queen. An awareness of the meaningfulness of everything, big and small, settles over everyone. This ode to natural phenomena and the strangers who congregate to observe it includes instructions on building an eclipse viewer and a timeline of what to expect during these “few beautiful minutes.” Read this book aloud on a lap, with plenty of time to discuss the details in the pictures.
Picture Books
“Eclipse”
by Andy Rash
Some moments take you out of time. This book portrays that well: the classroom lessons, the travel, the getting used to the eclipse glasses… these are all described in the past tense; everything after the eclipse (including the epic traffic jam) is in the future tense. Warm colors and everyday details recount a father and son bonding over an extraordinary experience. “Eclipse” is perfect for young scientists, as well as for families eager to build lifelong memories through time in nature.
“To Boldy Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights”
by Angel Dalton, illustrated by Lauren Semmer
What if people at your job didn’t respect you and you wanted to quit, but a hero told you that he needed you to stay? Bold, geometric illustrations perfectly complement the 1960s fashions portrayed in this book, and they are remarkably expressive as they chronicle Nichelle Nichols’ early career singing and dancing, her rise to fame, her work recruiting women and minorities for NASA and a historic chance meeting with a famous civil rights leader. Be inspired to work from where you are right now to make the world a place where anyone can reach for the stars.
Early Elementary
“Solar System by the Numbers: A Book of Infographics”
by Steve Jenkins
It’s one thing to say that the sun makes up most of the matter in the Solar System, but seeing the tiny sliver that “not the sun” represents on a pie chart, you begin to grasp the breathtaking scale of our corner of the galaxy. See side-by-side comparisons of how high someone can jump on other planets, a timeline of scientific discoveries and, yes, even diagrams of solar and lunar eclipses. This book may gobble up kids already fascinated with the solar system—or spark the imaginations of those who never thought about it much.
“Just Right: Searching for the Goldilocks Planet”
by Curtis Manley, illustrated by Jessica Lanan
Is there life on other planets? Have we discovered any of these planets? What makes life possible? A family’s visit to a museum and the wondering eyes of a girl illuminate the science of searching for life outside our solar system, including guesses at what planets glimpsed or intuited from far away might look like or what creatures might call them home. Come for the delicate beauty of the pictures and the story they tell. Stay for the mind-blowing realization of how many factors on Earth had to be “just right” for life here to be possible.
“Abby in Orbit: Blast Off!”
by Andrea J. Loney, illustrated by Fuuji Takashi
Like any third grader starting a new school, Abby worries about making a good impression. Unlike most third graders though, her new school is on a space station, where you work on the ceiling as well as the floor and walls and your classmates are all different ages and nationalities. Where when you cry, “tears don’t run down your cheeks…they just bubble up into these big, goopy, salty snotballs that cover your whole face.” And where (she fears) messing up will buy her a one-way ticket back to Nana’s house on Earth. Kids who enjoy stories about school and friends mixed with a little adventure will enjoy this book, as well as the others in this series. The fourth one comes out this April!
Middle Grade
“Planet Earth is Blue”
by Nicole Panteleakos
If the person you trust the most promises something, she’ll follow through, right? This book’s protagonist, Nova, is autistic and “severely mentally retarded,” according to the schools, but a “thinker, not a talker,” according to her big sister and protector, Bridget. Before they ran away from the last foster home, Bridget had promised Nova that if they were separated, Bridget would find her and be with her to watch the 1986 Challenger Launch. Nova writes undelivered letters to Bridget about everything that excites, worries and troubles her about her new home and school as the days count down, but will Bridget appear to fulfill her promise? If the Challenger and the song referenced in the title don’t tip you off, “Planet Earth is Blue” is a tearjerker. You’ve been warned.
“Eclipse Chaser: Science in the Moon’s Shadow (Scientists in the Field)”
by Ilima Loomis, photos by Amanda Cowan
What if your job was to study something that is too bright to look at? Scientists like Shadia Habbal take advantage of solar eclipses to research the sun. Chasing solar eclipses, however, is challenging. It involves traveling with expensive equipment, negotiating with local governments, competing for housing, space and food—and finally, the possibility that a cloud will appear just in time to ruin everything. Like the other Scientist in the Fields books, “Eclipse Chaser” offers glimpses into the real work of scientists—both the awe of discovery and all the unglamorous problems that must be solved along the way.
“Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez”
by Adrianna Cuevas
Nestor Lopez has moved six times, started at a new school 10 times, and he understands the speech of animals. It’s tricky to hide this ability from his new classmates, especially as the animals around his new town have a lot to say. A total solar eclipse approaches, and stories surface of a tule vieja, a witch that absorbs the powers of animals she bites during totality. Can Nestor and his new friends—animal and human—stop her? And how is his new teacher involved in all of this? “The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez” weaves folklore with the struggle of bearing up under a loved one’s military deployment and should appeal to readers who like slightly creepy books about kids with special powers.
Teen
“Sky’s End”
by Marc J Gregson
What would you stop at in order to rise? Conrad will do almost anything to achieve the “High” status that will allow him to rescue his sister from his murderously ambitious uncle, but even as he claws his way to the top, on a sky ship, hunting enormous, ravenous, floating metallic beasts, he wonders, are his crewmates mere tools, or are they more? Is caring about them risking his ultimate goal, or is relying on others making him stronger? And is there more at stake than his sister? This fast-paced post-apocalyptic dystopia reminiscent of “The Hunger Games” will appeal to teens who like action-packed fantasy/sci fi stories that raise questions about real-world issues.
“Moonbound: Apollo 11 and the Dream of Spaceflight”
by Jonathan Fetter-Vorm, with a forward by Michael Collins
What was it like to land on the moon? And was it worth it? “Moonbound” at once celebrates the wonder and unity among humans witnessing those first tentative steps and details what it cost—not only in money but in research, political clout, moral compromise and human lives. This exhaustively researched and documented graphic novel combines full-color moon landing accounts with monochromatic flashbacks propelling the reader towards liftoff and should appeal to fans of narrative nonfiction authors like Steve Sheinkin.
