Could not find this book.
"If they had seen what we see, they would have judged as we judge." -- Galileo Galilei
In every age there are courageous people who ... read full description
In every age there are courageous people who ... read full description
reviews
Aug 05, 2011
Chak
rated it: 
We love quite a few Peter Sis books (I dare you to find a better little boy's book than FIRE TRUCK!), but Starry Messenger was not one of them. I had to do quite a bit of live-editing while reading this one to Toby (my fault -- I should have previewed it first). Weird cursive writing is abundant and hard to read. But perhaps making the script sigmoid and sideways made "The streets were open sewers. Diesease was common, and thousands died from typhus and from the bubonic plague," se
More...
2 comments
like
(2 people liked it)
Feb 20, 2012
Michele
rated it: 
I love the illustrations of Peter Sis. They encourage exploration and there is no doubt this book earned the Caldecott Honor Award. I think the typed text is fairly understandable, taking into account that the topic is Galileo. While I like the idea of the handwritten text, I find this important portion of the book confusing and difficult to read. It isn't the swirly nature of this handwritten text--arranged in shapes, sometimes upside down or curling in on itself. That is enjoyable, an ad
More...
Aug 30, 2011
Natalie
rated it:
I really liked this story of Galileo. Sometimes a person doesn't get to see how much of an effect they have had on people. A person's greatness is sometimes revealed too late. In this story, Galileo, a philosopher, teacher, and master of the stars, lives a life of triumph until he goes against the ideas of religion. He is kept away from society until his death, because of his beliefs. Hundreds of years after his death, he is verbally aquitted by people who claimed that his ideas that the Sun was
More...
Sep 20, 2011
Rebecca
rated it: 
Starry Messenger tells the important story about the life of Galileo and the incredible risks and consequences he faced as he stood behind the claims and discoveries he made that challenged prior beliefs from church officials and scientists. Readers can consider Galileo's story and relate it to modern times, connecting it to the challenges individuals continue to face as they strive to overcome or speak out against societal norms.
In Starry Messenger, the reader is transported to ancie More...
In Starry Messenger, the reader is transported to ancie More...
Aug 05, 2011
Dolly
rated it:
This book offers a fascinating look at the life and work of Galileo Galilei. It provides historical background information about the various theories of the universe, leading up to his discovery that the Earth was not indeed the center of it. The illustrations are wonderful and the additional information and quotes that are artistically woven (sometimes in sprials) throughout the pages are good for deepening our understanding the man, his thoughts, and his tribulations with the church. They c
More...
Mar 24, 2010
Amanda
rated it:
This book offers very brief and general information about the life of Galileo Galilee and his accomplishments.
This book, at first, appears to be a fiction picture book. I say this for two reasons: a lack of index and the “story-like” feeling you get when reading it. The text was arranged interestingly on the page due to the fact that there were usually at least two different fonts on each page and sometime you would have to turn the entire book to read the passage that was on the p More...
This book, at first, appears to be a fiction picture book. I say this for two reasons: a lack of index and the “story-like” feeling you get when reading it. The text was arranged interestingly on the page due to the fact that there were usually at least two different fonts on each page and sometime you would have to turn the entire book to read the passage that was on the p More...
Nov 28, 2009
Heather
rated it:
My boys said this was "just as good as the Copernicus book", but they didn't seem as interested so I'm giving it 3 stars. They also didn't like the page where Galileo is in prison and imagining all the tortures that might happen to him. Just a wee bit too graphic for them.
Overall it was a nice book. There is simple text along the bottom and then squiggly cursive at the top. The plain text told his basic story and the cursive included some of his notes and theories. I t More...
Overall it was a nice book. There is simple text along the bottom and then squiggly cursive at the top. The plain text told his basic story and the cursive included some of his notes and theories. I t More...
Apr 24, 2009
Stephanie
rated it:
Unlike most children's book illustrators, Sis favors subtle pastels and complex, detailed drawings over bold colors and images. There's always a lot going on in every image, if kids slow down enough to look at them. The level of illustrative detail makes this book best for one-on-one reading. The book can be read on two levels; short, simple biographical statements target younger children while small, cursive passages highlight book excerpts and quotes from Galileo. This handwritten text adds a
More...
Apr 15, 2010
Sarah
rated it:
I enjoyed this book, but some of the text was distracting and written in unnecessarily complicated ways. A child might be willing to turn the book around in order to read a section in the shape of an eye, but they might also find it annoying and just ignore it. These pieces of text were not completely necessary to understanding the book, but they were interesting and it would be unfortunate if they were skipped. The pictures are fascinating. I love how you can pick out both baby and child Galile
More...
Apr 28, 2010
Kristi
rated it:
This book tells of the life of Galileo Galilei from the time just before his birth until just after his death.The book tells of how Galileo Galilei was curious and determined. He created his own telescope to see the sky and the stars. The book not only tells the biography of Galileo Galilei in words a child can understand but in a way that is also interesting to read about. It shows how he held to his beliefs, persevered through persecution, and even though it was after his death, his legacy wil
More...
Jan 19, 2010
Josiah
rated it: 
There's a haunting quality about this book that really surprised me, in a positive way. Perhaps it was the tight cursive scrawl representing the words of Galileo, twisting up and over and around on many of the pages. It sort of felt as if the story was infused with special dignity because of that, as if the power of such an extraordinary life and the suffering heaped upon him for his steadfast scientific convictions were coming through with a degree of clarity that I've never before seen in a p
More...
Sep 25, 2011
Megan D.
rated it: 
"A book depicting the life of a famous scientist, mathematician, astronomer, philospher, physicist: Galileo Galilei."
One of the things I really like about this fascinating book is that it has a little something for a wide spectrum of young (and old) readers. There is the main story line that is very readable and interesting for both younger and older children, and there are extra facts, fascinating trivia, and quotes from Galileo himself in cursive script, that will appeal to old More...
Dec 09, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
I chose Starry Messenger: Galileo Galilei by Peter Sís for my astronomy materials for children ages 5 to 8 project. One of our requirements was to include a biography relevant to the topic. Starry Messenger was the most interesting of the books on hand that fit the project.
The title comes from the notebook Galileo Galilei kept for most of his life. He worked with then cutting edge technology, the telescope, to make observations supporting Copernicus's theory that the earth and planet More...
The title comes from the notebook Galileo Galilei kept for most of his life. He worked with then cutting edge technology, the telescope, to make observations supporting Copernicus's theory that the earth and planet More...
Nov 10, 2011
Jessie
rated it:
The illustrations are beautiful, and the inclusion of text from Galileo's journals, observations, etc, were interesting. However, most of the content is what I remember learning about Galileo in school, in no more detail. I was also frustrated by reading the parts of the text that were in the script font--the letters are tiny and close together, and the words form shapes on the page, causing me to turn the book in all different directions. Kind of cool, but it made reading it tedious for me.
Feb 13, 2012
Sarah
rated it:
The artwork of this book is lovely. And I like how the text is organized. It has the basic short paragraph to read, but if you want to read more in depth, there are "handwritten" text on the page that are some of Galileo's own writings. My 4 year old's attention span wasn't that long, but it was nice to see we could have read more about him if we wanted to. And even though we didn't read the extra text, it in no way took away from the book. I think it was very well thought out.
Apr 25, 2011
Nicole
rated it:
The delivery is a little advanced for the stated target age range. While the basic block text is great for kids, the additional cursive, flowy text is difficult to read but provides excellent depth to the biography. Also a few of the illustrations are too intense for young readers... images of a man on a rack and faces in flames while Galileo is in the torture chamber? Yikes!
Feb 15, 2012
Sarah
rated it:
In this picture book biography, we learn about the life of Galileo. Sis places his discoveries in time by explaining previous beliefs about the solar system and shows the effect of Galileo's evidence of the sun as its center on the cultural/religious beliefs of the time. This is such a lovely book, but I wish the information written in the sidebars was more legible.
Jul 10, 2011
Courtney
rated it:
I enjoyed the illustrations but the cursive writing in the margains really make it diffcult for 3rd grade and younger students. I can see the value for older students but it is not a book that you go to for finding quick information--lots of margin reading and having to make sense of how everything is laid out on the page.
Jan 05, 2011
Amber
rated it:
Very simplistic writing coupled with greatly detailed drawings left us feeling gypped. This book was written to a much younger audience then the illustrations or even the subject would suggest. Thankfully this was a supplement to other reading about Galileo because we gleaned nothing from this book.
May 21, 2010
Satia
rated it:
I think this book lends itself to being a transition. For the more mature reader who still wants pretty pictures, there is enough meat in the content to give the reader food for thought while the illustrations are both elegant and lovely.
http://satia.blogspot.com/2010/05/childr...
http://satia.blogspot.com/2010/05/childr...
Jul 11, 2011
Amanda
rated it:
I wouldn't have this book in my library. The large detailed old world style pictures, cursive Galileo quotes and minimal story text make this book difficult to read. It does however with the pictures and story text convey a sense of how different and radical Galileo and his thoughts were for his time.
Jul 03, 2011
A beautiful and fanciful children's book on Galileo and his ideas - a lovely introduction to the life and ideas of a man whose discoveries and curiosities have shaped our world. Many children will relate to Galileo's taste for the mysterious and outlandish world of the cosmos.
Dec 23, 2008
Luann
rated it:
I didn't like this one much at all. I thought the illustrations were just okay, the text was a bit sparse with too much of it in a tedious handwritten cursive. I don't feel like I learned much about Galileo that I didn't already know.
Sep 17, 2011
Ashley
rated it:
The Starry Messenger is a great book when introducing to your students about Galileo. The book can be used tp discuss Galileo's principals and standards. You can also use it to discuss why the people disapproved of Galileo's ideas.
Oct 04, 2011
Kelsey
rated it:
While the illustrations are fascinating, this biography of Galileo is quite boring. The book is tedious and the text is somewhat hard to read. I would only make a student read this if they were doing a report on Galileo.
Jan 17, 2012
Elizabeth
rated it:
A story about Galileo and how he discovered that the Earth was not the center. There is a lot going on throughout the book, such as facts that are written in small cursive. The illustrations are very good.
Nov 06, 2011
Linda
rated it:
This is a lovely book, but not really for young people.
More suited to late primary school class discussion or for those of us who have always looked up with wonder - with stars in our eyes.
More suited to late primary school class discussion or for those of us who have always looked up with wonder - with stars in our eyes.
Apr 15, 2010
Kiera
rated it:
Stories and facts about Galileo and the revolution of planets and stars. Interesting with nice illustrations. The layout can be a little confusing/frustrating at times.
Dec 10, 2011
Naomi
rated it:
This is a beautiful book that gives a very good introduction to the life of Galileo Galilei and theories of the movement (or lack thereof) of the earth. The book has a nice layout, with beautiful pictures. Kids could have fun spending quite a while looking at the pictures. Very factually accurate.
Parts are in cursive type and may be hard for younger readers.
Parts are in cursive type and may be hard for younger readers.
Oct 27, 2010
Becky
rated it:
Beautifully illustrated Caldecott winner. Not really appropriate as a read-aloud due to its many side-bars.
