This large-format book covers typical astronomy topics (e.g., solar system, space exploration). Double-page spreads include vivid photographs and illustrations accompanied by brief paragraphs, additional facts, and sidebars. The "Stargazing" section includes star maps and directions on how to use them. Though the pages are busy, the package is impressive-looking and can be useful for browsing. Glos., ind.

Gr 5-7 Seamlessly commingling luscious, color space photographs and dramatic, sharply detailed digital imagery, this tour of the universe earns high marks for visual impact. It's not too shabby in breadth of coverage either, opening with both single and group portraits of the solar system and its components, continuing on to do the same for stars and galaxies, adding star charts and other aids for amateur astronomers, and then closing with a history of space exploration. Placed on the art and so, usually, white on black, the text is about evenly split between specific captions and brief general comments, and backed up with summary "Fact File" spreads in each section. The many star charts are large and easy to read (though not outside at night, of coursea common failing of star charts). As there are no leads to print or online resources, or any special emphasis on recent discoveries, this won't replace the more comprehensive likes of Robert Dinwiddie, et al's Universe (DK, 2005) or Patrick Moore's Firefly Atlas of the Universe (Firefly, 2003)but it will draw a younger audience, and be equally popular for reference and general enquiry. John Peters, New York Public Library