The Day the Universe Exploded My Head: Poems to Take You into Space and Back Again - Hardcover

Wolf, Allan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0763680257 ISBN 13: 9780763680251

Publisher: Candlewick, 2019

Synopsis

Hang on tight for a raucous bounce through the solar system and back — propelled by funny, fanciful, factually sound poems and exuberant illustrations.

The universe poured into me.
My brain was overloaded.
It smoked and glowed red-hot.
And then
it actually exploded.

Ever wonder what the sun has to say about being the closest star to Earth? Or what Pluto has gotten up to since being demoted to a dwarf planet? Or where rocket ships go when they retire? Listen closely, because maybe, just maybe, your head will explode, too. With poetry that is equal parts accurate and entertaining — and illustrations that are positively out of this world — this book will enthrall amateur stargazers and budding astrophysicists as it reveals many of the wonders our universe holds. Space travelers in search of more information will find notes about the poems, a glossary, and a list of resources at the end.

About this title

About the Author

Allan Wolf is the author of many award-winning books for children and teens, including The Blood-Hungry Spleen and Other Poems About Our Parts. He lives in Roanoke, Virginia.

Anna Raff is the illustrator of several books for children, including World Rat Day by J. Patrick Lewis and A Big Surprise for Little Card by Charise Mericle Harper. She lives in New York City.

Reviews

Gr 3–7-Beginning with the sun, Wolf utilizes poetry to introduce readers to the planets and other space-related subjects. Different styles of poetry are featured throughout the text. For example, the poem on the Sun is an example of a Shakespearean sonnet, or as it's called in the book, a "sunnet." Concrete poems are also included, as are poems for two voices. The color-coded poems spotlighting two voices would be especially useful in a classroom setting. The topics covered range from the silly to the serious, offering some introductory information on the specific subject while sustaining a playful tone. The poem on meteorites presents a somewhat lighthearted view of the meteorite that exploded in the city of Chelyabinsk, Russia in 2013. "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Man" shares information about the stars, intended to be sung to the familiar children's tune. Other subjects include black holes, Sputnik, Ivan Ivanovich, famous astronomers, animals in space, and more. The lively poems are accompanied by large cartoon drawings against the backdrop of a night sky. Following all of the poems is a section of "Notes on the Poems" that provides additional information on the topics as well as the type of poetry used. The book concludes with a glossary of selected space terms and a listing of internet resources. VERDICT These out-of-this-world poems are sure to engage and delight young readers.-Maren Ostergard, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA

Edition details

• Publisher: Candlewick
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0763680257
• ISBN 13: 9780763680251
• Binding: Hardcover
• Illustrator: Raff Anna
• Number of pages: 56