Gr 3-5-Rau gazes far beyond our astronomical neighborhood to introduce some of the universe's most mysterious and spectacular phenomena. Rightly noting in the first book that black holes by their very nature can neither be seen nor directly measured, she discusses what we can infer and theorize from indirect observations, then closes with a revealing 2004 discovery. In the companion volume, she describes the nature of our own galaxy, then presents a gallery of other types, along with brief mentions of quasars, clusters, and superclusters. Both books are illustrated with a mix of photos and digital art that usually reinforces or expands upon topics in the narrative and close with a column of extra facts, plus short lists of multimedia resources for further inquiry. Earning high marks for visual appeal, and for clear, specific presentation of material, these offerings make worthy additions or updates for most collections.-John Peters, New York Public Library Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.