Seymour Simon

I. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Simon, Seymour. 2002. DESTINATION: SPACE. Harper Collins.

II. PLOT SUMMARY

DESTINATION: SPACE reveals many interesting discoveries the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) has captured in photographs since April 1990 when it was placed into orbit. The HST has provided evidence of black holes, new planets and stars being born, and new images of the planets in our own solar system.

III. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

DESTINATION: SPACE is an oversized, though short pictorial discovery of the depths of space. Seymour Simon has once again opened up the universe to us in this captivating book about the discoveries from the Hubble Space Telescope. This book provides full-page pictures taken by the telescope, and Simon describes in great detail what the images are. Simon has written over 200 books and is a former science teacher. His qualifications are excellent, and he presents each picture in the book with a full description.

The text is easy to understand and the descriptions bring the phenomena of space to the understanding level of children. For example, in describing how a nebula around a young star is lit up, he compares it to the gasses glowing inside a florescent light bulb. Simon draws comparisons in his writing so that the reader can fully grasp the ideas. In describing how fast the gases in the nebula are traveling, he compares it to the speed of spaceships, and in fact, the gases are traveling more that two hundred miles per second.

The book is designed well, with large text and large pictures filling the pages. While there is no table of contents or index, the book only covers fourteen pictures taken by the HST, so those features are not necessary to find information in the book. The book begins with pictures from our own Solar System and then shows the stars and systems beyond. This layout makes sense and brings the reader on a journey deeper and deeper into space. The book even includes on of the first pictures ever made of a black hole.

The writing is inviting and the author is clearly passionate about the subject. The reader is filled with wonder about the universe, and this awe is summed up skillfully in the final two paragraphs on the last page. The conclusion leads the reader to want to learn more. Simon writes, “No one knows what new and startling news is still to come from space.” We can be sure though, that he will continue to bring those discoveries to us.

Overall, this book about space brings new insight into the depth of our universe. The large pictures from the HST are colorful and described accurately and accessibly by Simon. He draws comparisons that children can understand, making a complex subject easier to grasp, and the writing encourages curiosity about the future of space discovery, which may lead readers to seek more information about space.

IV. REVIEW EXCERPTS

“On each spread, the large-print, easy-to-understand text is supported by a stunning, full-page color photograph. The author explains what discovery each image produced and how the information fits into our existing knowledge.” –School Library Journal

“An attractive, informative addition to a fine series.” –Booklist

V. CONNECTIONS
**Collect other books about space and compare and contrast them.
**Have children create newscasts broadcasting the discoveries in the book.