Exploring Space: From Galileo to the Mars Rover and Beyond, by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Stephen Biesty

Synopsis: Launch into a truly out-of-this-world examination of the past, present, and future of humans in space.

For centuries, humans have looked up at the night sky and wondered what it’s like deep in space, far from Earth — and now we’ve begun to find out. We’ve landed on the moon, put robots on Mars, and sent space probes billions of miles to explore the far reaches of our solar system. Told in richly detailed cutaway illustrations by Stephen Biesty and friendly, engaging writing by Martin Jenkins, here is the enthralling story of how we made the great leap into space and what we’ve discovered there. Find out what life is like on the International Space Station, what the chances are that we will ever settle on Mars, where in the solar system we might find alien life, and why visiting other stars will almost certainly remain a dream. Budding astronomers, junior astronauts, and anyone who has ever gazed up at the stars in fascination will pore over this beautifully intricate yet accessible glimpse of the infinite wonders of space.

Published: June 2017 | ISBN: 978-0763689315 | Ages: 8-12 years

Mini-bio: Martin Jenkins, a conservation biologist, has written several nonfiction books for children, including APE, GRANDMA ELEPHANT’S IN CHARGE, THE EMPEROR’S EGG, and CHAMELEONS ARE COOL.

Stephen’s Homepage: http://www.stephenbiesty.co.uk

Chair of the judges Professor Yadvinder Malhi FRS, said: “This beautiful book tells the story of space exploration from the earliest observers of the night sky to the near future. It stood out from the pack because it had a well-written and engaging narrative that really went into some depth, combined with beautiful and richly annotated illustrations. This could appeal across the age range: a seven-year old could engage with the rich illustrations, whereas a fourteen-year old could gain a lot from the deeper narrative. In a publishing space where many books are filled with short attention-grabbing factoids, it was pleasing to see this book present a deeper and richer story line, and to do it well.” – The Royal Society Young People’s Book Prize Nomination

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Hardcover Edition: Exploring Space: From Galileo to the Mars Rover and Beyond