Kid Konnection: StarTalk

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week I'm going to share with you a new book for kids who love astronomy and especially the television show StarTalk!

Summary: This beautifully illustrated companion to celebrated scientist Neil deGrasse Tyson's popular podcast and National Geographic Channel TV show is an eye-opening journey for anyone curious about the complexities of our universe. For decades, beloved astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has interpreted science with a combination of brainpower and charm that resonates with fans everywhere. In 2009, he founded StarTalk, the wildly popular podcast that became an Emmy-nominated talk show on the National Geographic Channel this year.

Tyson's pioneering, provocative book will take the greatest hits from the airwaves to the page in one smart, richly illustrated compendium. Featuring vivid photography, thought-provoking sidebars, enlightening facts, and fun quotes from science and entertainment luminaries like Bill Nye and Dan Aykroyd, StarTalk reimagines science's most challenging topics -- from how the brain works to the physics of comic book superheroes -- in a relatable, humorous way that will delight fans and new readers alike. -- National Geographic

If I'm being entirely honest with you, I am not very interested in astronomy. I have tried... I even took a 3 credit Astronomy class in college (it was one of my worst grades!) It's just not a subject that I really want to spend time learning. However (and this is a big however!), I think maybe if I had had a book like STARTALK with Neil DeGrasse Tyson as a kid, I might have see things a little differently.

STARTALK is a fantastic resource for children on all things about our universe. It's subtitle even claims, "Everything You Ever Need to Know About Space Travel, Sci-Fi, the Human Race, the Universe, and Beyond" Whew -- that's a lot of information in a 200+ page book. But I can attest that this book will both teach and entertain kids (and a few adults)!

STARTALK is a companion book to the popular podcast hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson and National  Geographic Channel's television show. It really is an absolutely incredible book. It's published by National Geographic so you know that the photography is spectacular, and the descriptions are both insightful and fun to read.

The book is set up in such a reader-friendly way. It's divided into the following chapters: Space; Planet Earth, Being Human, and Futures Imagined. Within each section, there are amazing pictures along with references to the original StarTalk episode so kids can learn even more on the subjects that interest them. There are also quotes (some are pretty darn funny!) from some of the guests on the shows as well as "Think on This" sidebars and lots of great information that will make you a star at the next trivia night.

It's really hard for me to explain just how in depth this book is, but at the same time it's really easy-to-read and easy-to-understand. The amount of photographs make it appealing even to reluctant readers (or grownups who aren't that interested in the topic!) And I suspect that while this book has loads of information, it might just be a starting point for kids who want to learn even more about our universe.

STARTALK is a terrific book and one that I highly recommend to young and "old" alike. At the very least, it's a must-have book for libraries and schools.

Thanks to Media Masters for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!