cover image Nebulae: The Birth & Death of Stars

Nebulae: The Birth & Death of Stars

Necia H. Apfel. Lothrop, Lee and Shepard Books, $17 (48pp) ISBN 978-0-688-07228-5

Nebulae are interstellar clouds made up of tiny particles often illuminated by starlight. Their unique shapes, varied as earthly clouds, are created by the collapse of matter into a new star, or the explosion of a star becoming a supernova. This book looks at various kinds of nebulae, their evolution and how we have seen them through the years. The photographs of nebulae and other formations are stunning. Apfel's text is straightforward and informative without overwhelming readers; each paragraph is a small, comprehensible essay beautifully matched with a clear, captioned, full-color photograph. This picture book is a delightful, accessible introduction to an appealing topic. Ages 7-12. (August)