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Dan Green
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Simon Basher
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Basher Astronomy: Out of this World! Paperback – Bargain Price, May 12, 2009

by Simon Basher (Author, Illustrator), Dan Green (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars 262 ratings

Like a Facebook for the universe, Astronomy gives every important celestial body and concept its own page, where readers can learn its behaviors, likes, and dislikes up close and personal. From the flashy stars to the shadowy and strange objects that hang out like loners at the edges of the universe, no player goes unnoticed. Every profile has a hip anime-style portrait to round out the picture, but make no mistake: while the presentation is all style, the science is rock solid. The book includes a super cute poster of the solar system in the back. The universe has never been so cool.

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  1. Reading age
    6 - 10 years, from customers
  2. Part of series
    Basher Science
  3. Print length
    128 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Dimensions
    7.03 x 0.36 x 7.05 inches
  6. Publisher
    Kingfisher
  7. Publication date
    May 12, 2009
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Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4–8—Employing the same illustrative style used in Adrian Dingle's The Periodic Table: Elements with Style! (Kingfisher, 2007), Basher has created a portrait gallery of personified planets, comets, space probes, galaxies, several kinds of stars, and an array of other celestial bodies in a hyper-cute, pastel cartoon style reminiscent of Japanese artist Takashi Murakami's more extravagant flights. Along with short bulleted lists of additional information, each figure offers a fact-based self-description, from the Sun's exuberant "I'm a total star—the center of everything, baby! A fearsome fireball burning 600 million tons of hydrogen every second" to snotty Space-time's "Because you're used to seeing in only three dimensions, you cannot even imagine what I look like." Though the closest star to the sun is misidentified as a "brown dwarf" (it is actually Proxima Centauri, a red dwarf, which is correctly categorized on a later page), Green's astro-narrative is both accurate and spiced with seldom-mentioned details, such as Pluto's three moons and Saturn's weirdly hexagonal polar cloud. This won't replace more conventionally written and illustrated surveys, but it could kindle (or in undermotivated older readers, rekindle) interest in the topic. And it's fun!—John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

School Library JournalBasher has created a portrait gallery of personified ... celestial bodies in a hyper-cute, pastel cartoon style reminiscent of Japanese artist Takashi Murakami’s more extravagant flights. . . . Green’s astro-narrative is both accurate and spiced with seldom-mentioned details, ... it could kindle (or in under motivated older readers, rekindle) interest in the topic. And it’s fun!

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004WB1AF2
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kingfisher
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 12, 2009
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Pap/Pstr
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 128 pages
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 9.6 ounces
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 6 - 10 years, from customers
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.03 x 0.36 x 7.05 inches
  • Part of series ‏ : ‎ Basher Science
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 out of 5 stars 262 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Dan Green

    Dan Green

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Dan Green is the Editor of The Week Junior Science+Nature magazine and a writer of award-winning books, including The Periodic Table in Minutes and The Science Book. Working with the graphic artist Basher, he developed the bestselling Basher Science series.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Simon Basher

    Simon Basher

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    For a FREE Basher Science Periodic Table wall poster please email your POSTAL address to simon@simonbasher.com (U.S only offer)

    Simon Basher is a British illustrator and designer.

    He is best known for creating and illustrating a series of books that make science and other topics accessible. The Basher Science series has sold over 4 million copies worldwide.

    His book catalog includes The Periodic Table, Physics, Biology, Rocks and Minerals, Planet Earth, Chemistry, Physics, Math, Punctuation, and Astronomy.

    Simon Basher lives and works in Brighton, U.K

    New Basher books for 2020/21

    STEM Science

    STEM Technology

    STEM Engineering

    STEM Math

    Basher Civics

    Basher Pandemic

    Basher Money

    Basher Legendary Creatures

    www.basherscience.com

    FOLLOW SIMON BASHER:

    facebook.com/SimonBasherBooks

    Instagram: SimonBasherBooks

    www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Basher

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
262 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this astronomy book to be a great introduction to the subject, particularly for young geniuses, with easy-to-understand content and perfect writing style. They love the illustrations and find the book fun, with one customer noting it maintains an appropriate silliness level to keep children engaged.

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35 customers mention "Education level"35 positive0 negative

Customers find the book educational, particularly as a high-level introduction to astronomy for kids, with one customer noting it's easy for children to understand the material.

"...topics to students who may not understand; these books put vocab into kid friendly terms that aren't intimidating...." Read more

"...And it explains those new planets, and the sad demotion of our dear Pluto, and the various things that we didn't know about..." Read more

"Wonderful book for my 6 year old. Perfectly written, illustrated and informative without being too overwhelming for a child...." Read more

"...by the text, perfect silliness level to keep him engaged, and more real science facts than he could absorb the first time through." Read more

30 customers mention "Book love"30 positive0 negative

Customers love this astronomy book, with many expressing their appreciation for the entire Basher series, and one customer noting it makes a nice companion to other books.

"...They have amazing graphics, are excellently written and are well made/bound." Read more

"...This is a nice companion to any series, and it's also a quick reference...." Read more

"...The images caught my students attention and they loved the book." Read more

"...It's helpful to me in our conversations. Well done. Bart Carrig" Read more

18 customers mention "Illustrations"18 positive0 negative

Customers love the illustrations in the book, with one customer noting how the style inspired them, while another mentions the nifty cover design.

"...They have amazing graphics, are excellently written and are well made/bound." Read more

"...coffee table books" for kids, that they only pick up because of the nifty cover, but then spend more time in it because it's got some humor and..." Read more

"Wonderful book for my 6 year old. Perfectly written, illustrated and informative without being too overwhelming for a child...." Read more

"...Just enough pictures to keep him from feeling intimidated by the text, perfect silliness level to keep him engaged, and more real science facts..." Read more

7 customers mention "Writing style"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, finding it perfectly written and easy to read and understand.

"...They have amazing graphics, are excellently written and are well made/bound." Read more

"Wonderful book for my 6 year old. Perfectly written, illustrated and informative without being too overwhelming for a child...." Read more

"...We enjoy the great illustrations and the quirkiness of the text. My son can't put it down, and he hasn't yet met a Basher book he doesn't love!!..." Read more

"...He learned all about physics in simple but effective language. He is 11 and very bright and the style inspired him...." Read more

6 customers mention "Fun"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fun, with one mentioning that the perfect silliness level keeps children engaged.

"...to keep him from feeling intimidated by the text, perfect silliness level to keep him engaged, and more real science facts than he could absorb the..." Read more

"This is a good high level introduction to astronomy for kids that is fun and engaging - and seems to have the latest info...." Read more

"My son has learned so much science from these funny books! It's great for his vocabulary as well. I like that they don't talk down to the kids." Read more

"Fun and educational!..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • CandiiMarie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Go ahead, click "Add to Cart"
    Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    My students love these books AND I love these books! I have students who reach for them when they are done completing classwork, after tests and in study hall. I teach 7th grade science and I am constantly using these as in class references to explain topics to students who may not understand; these books put vocab into kid friendly terms that aren't intimidating. I currently own around 8-10 of the science themed books from Basher, I buy them as they get published and have been building my "library" for about 5-6 years now. These would make an excellent gift for any kid, a teacher or yourself for that matter. They have amazing graphics, are excellently written and are well made/bound.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Becky A. Skillin
    5.0 out of 5 stars nifty book...nice for a car ride.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    My son LOVES these books. The 8x8 size is also inviting. Cute characters introduce difficult ideas. My son wants the whole series. I have to admit the layout makes me curious, to see who is included in what. And it explains those new planets, and the sad demotion of our dear Pluto, and the various things that we didn't know about (kupiter belt, anyone?)

    This is a nice companion to any series, and it's also a quick reference. One of those "coffee table books" for kids, that they only pick up because of the nifty cover, but then spend more time in it because it's got some humor and interesting facts. One of those good examples of science well presented doesn't need a lot of whistles and bells, it's just cool in and of itself.
    17 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Stephanie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book for my 6 year old
    Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Wonderful book for my 6 year old. Perfectly written, illustrated and informative without being too overwhelming for a child. I would say this book would be one that would take my 6 year old into middle school, as the information will grow with him as he grows. He can take the more simple information for what he needs, and then comprehend the entirety of the book as he gets older.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Roswell Ginny
    5.0 out of 5 stars perfect silliness level to keep him engaged
    Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    My son is a voracious reader. We got him 7 of the Basher Science books for his 8th birthday in late March. He had finished them all by the end of April and has picked them back up again to reread. (2nd grade, reading at a U-level) He won't touch a fiction book unless forced, but if it is about science or technology he can't put it down. Just enough pictures to keep him from feeling intimidated by the text, perfect silliness level to keep him engaged, and more real science facts than he could absorb the first time through.
    5 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Veronica Sambrano
    5.0 out of 5 stars Teacher
    Reviewed in the United States on October 31, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I’m a middle school science teacher and this made teaching astronomy very easy. The images caught my students attention and they loved the book.
    Helpful
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  • C
    5.0 out of 5 stars Another great Basher book!!
    Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    We LOVE Basher books here!! They are packed full of information and written in a very engaging style. Our latest addition, Astronomy, is no exception. We enjoy the great illustrations and the quirkiness of the text. My son can't put it down, and he hasn't yet met a Basher book he doesn't love!! Highly recommended.
    Helpful
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  • Katherine
    5.0 out of 5 stars Basher books are the best
    Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    My daughter absolutely loves all the Basher books. They covered astronomy in her 4th grade class and saw that there was a Basher book on the subject. She asked for the book, I didn't tell her I was going to buy it. It arrived just as summer break was starting. I was opening my Amazon package, placed the book on the dinging table, she passed by and squealed with delight. I don't often see that look on her face.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • M. Massey
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fun to read introduction to the subject
    Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    A personified planetary story version of the facts. Not deep in the details but gives a great read and introduction to appeal to the age range. My son enjoys it!
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Val Smith
    5.0 out of 5 stars Basher science: astronomy
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 7, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I bought this book for my own use as my science knowledge is almost non-existent. As an "arts" person, I studiously avoided all science except animals and plants. My physics education ceased when I was 13 (my arts full time education ceased when I was 22) but Patrick Moore and then Chris Lintot brought me worlds I wanted to know more about so a (fairly) basic book was needed and I think this has supplied it. The text and the illustrations are memorable and you don't have to be a child to get caught up in the excitement of it.. It may not last too long as I keep going back to it.
    Report
  • M. Fitzpatrick
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on March 21, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    My 8 year old lives this book!
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  • 9447914010301202202112022021030104197449
    5.0 out of 5 stars I have been the fan of this series for some time
    Reviewed in Japan on December 23, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    It taught me so many things this time, too, such as the difference between meteor and meteorite, what a galaxy means, etc.

    Space is far away and boundless, but after reading this book, I feel I am closer to it.

    A bit vulgar way to teach readers how to pronounce Uranus was hilarious.
    Report
  • Shirley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Basher Science: Astronomy: Out of this World!
    Reviewed in Canada on March 27, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    Awesome book. Very well represented and easy to understand. My son loves reading and this book just adds to his interest.
    Report
  • Patricia Briddon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant books
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 28, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Good typical Basher book my grandsons love these books. I am really pleased with them they learn so much and they encourage them to read
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