Overview
⭐ ""Beautifully presented and thoughtfully researched....informational and inspirational.""--School Library Journal (STARRED REVIEW) ⭐""Thoughtful....skillful."" --Publishers Weekly (STARRED REVIEW) An incredible picture book biography about how the trailblazing astronomer found her people--and figured out what stars are made of. Cecilia Payne loved learning to see nature's wonders, even things other people called impossible. While studying at Cambridge, she dreamed of becoming a great astronomer like the ones she read about in the library. But too many people thought women didn't belong among stars or atoms. So, Cecilia packed her bags for Harvard, where she could surround herself with women who also loved astronomy and physics. These ""Harvard Computers"" shared their treasures with her--thousands of photographs of starlight. Cecilia found a way to read the patterns in these photos and started asking big questions. Could these photos show her what stars are made of? What if they showed Cecilia something all the great astronomers called impossible? With stellar gouache and watercolor art and thrilling scientific details, this biography is a loving tribute to the joy of curiosity, the value of community, and the struggle to find confidence in your own voice. Extensive back matter helps readers learn through an author's note, timelines of Cecilia's life and of discoveries that led to hers, a list of Cecilia's honors and awards, and resources for further reading.
Full Product Details
Author: Laura Alary ,
Yas Imamura
Publisher: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Imprint: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
Dimensions:
Width: 23.80cm
, Height: 1.00cm
, Length: 22.00cm
Weight: 0.376kg
ISBN: 9780802855152
ISBN 10: 0802855156
Pages: 56
Publication Date: 27 January 2026
Recommended Age: From 7 to 12 years
Audience:
Children/juvenile
,
Children / Juvenile
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
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Reviews
""Inspiring...atmospheric (and sometimes beautifully surreal)...a stellar salute to the feminist scientist who showed us what stars are truly made of."" --Kirkus Reviews ""I can't say enough about this beautiful book, my friends. Read it. Share it. And oh my, what a wonderful prompt for discussions about the choices we make."" --Erin Dealey, author and educator
""Inspiring...atmospheric (and sometimes beautifully surreal)...a stellar salute to the feminist scientist who showed us what stars are truly made of."" -- Kirkus Reviews
""Inspiring...atmospheric (and sometimes beautifully surreal)...a stellar salute to the feminist scientist who showed us what stars are truly made of."" --Kirkus Reviews ""A very readable, intriguing story."" --Booklist ""I can't say enough about this beautiful book, my friends. Read it. Share it. And oh my, what a wonderful prompt for discussions about the choices we make."" --Erin Dealey, author and educator
Author Information
Laura Alary has written over a dozen books for children, including The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything (Kids Can), Here (Paraclete), What Grew in Larry's Garden (Kids Can), and All the Faces of Me (Owlkids). She hopes that Cecilia's story inspires children to follow their curiosity and find confidence in their own unique voices. Laura lives in Toronto, Canada. Visit her website at lauraalary.ca. Yas Imamura is the acclaimed illustrator of many picture books, including Love in the Library (Candlewick), Can You Imagine? (Atheneum), Winged Wonders (Sleeping Bear), and The Bicycle (Balzer + Bray). She frequently works with gouache and watercolor, and she is often drawn to playful and slightly offbeat projects. Yas lives and works in Portland, Oregon. Follow her on Instagram @yas.illustration.
