Old Book Reviews, Part One: Starry Messenger

I was going through some old files the other day, when I found some book reviews I had published in the Southeastern Planetarium Association (SEPA) Newsletter in the late 90's.  I thought they were fun, or at least something to pad my blog with, so without any more delay, here is the first of up to four.  

Starry Messenger:  Galileo Galilei
Created and Illustrated by Peter Sis
© 1996
Frances Foster Books
37 pages
$16.00

 

http://www.petersis.com/content/starry_messenger.html

While visiting Nashville, TN last year, Waylena McCully and I were fantasy shopping in,
where else, the local book stores. Walking that thin line between desire and sensibility is
always a risk, but we both managed to escape with our wallets non the worse for wear.
This was made all the more remarkable when you take into account the surprising find of
the year.

Waylena was browsing the children’s section when she happened upon a gem of a book.
Starry Messenger has the look and feel of a children’s book, but it’s subject matter is a
little heavier than most of the genre.

Drawn in first by its ornate and beautiful artwork, we sat and read the whole book right
there, mesmerized by each turn of the page.  Each page is divided into wonderful
drawings and two kinds of text.  Large, friendly fonts relate the basics of Galileo’s life
and his accomplishments.  Acting as a supplement to this, handwriting give’s details for
the more curious, but is not needed if reading the book to a child.  (More on that later.)

As we read the book there in the store, a passerby would have heard the following
exchange:  “You don’t think it will go into...”  “No way, it couldn’t...”  To the surprise of
both of us, it did. 

For a children’s book, Starry Messenger deals with the trial and conviction of Galileo
quite frankly and openly.  One of the passages in the book reads:  “Galileo was afraid. He
knew that people had suffered terrible torture and punishment for not following
tradition.” We were both quite impressed with the honesty.  However, I’m not sure that
all parents would feel the same way that we did.

The artwork is absolutely outstanding, and is by far the best part of the book.  Large,
woodcut type color illustrations range from the simply beautiful to downright frightening.
Each is superbly detailed, and will supply literally hours of enjoyment examining them.

Now over a year later, I have finally tracked down a copy of the book for very my own. I
highly recommend it for anyone interested in the history of astronomy and science.  It is
well worth the price for the pictures alone. (Have I mentioned how stunning they are?)

But as far as giving the book to a kid, I really don’t know.  To be honest, I would be
hesitant to read it to any child without clearing it with their parents.  That said, Starry
Messenger will be proudly displayed on my bookshelf.