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You Are Stardust
You Are Stardust begins by introducing the idea that every tiny atom in our bodies came from a star that exploded long before we were born. From its opening pages, the book suggests that we are intimately connected to the natural world; it compares the way we learn to speak to the way baby birds learn to sing, and the growth of human bodies to the growth of forests. Award-winning author Elin Kelsey — along with a number of concerned parents and educators around the world — believes children are losing touch with nature. This innovative picture book aims to reintroduce children to their innate relationship with the world around them by sharing many of the surprising ways that we are all connected to the natural world. Grounded in current science, this extraordinary picture book provides opportunities for children to use their imaginations and wonder about some big ideas. Soyeon Kim’s incredible diorama art enhances the poetic text, and her creative process is explored in full on the reverse side of the book’s jacket, which features comments from the artist. Young readers will want to pore over each page of this book, exploring the detailed artwork and pondering the message of the text, excited to find out just how connected to the Earth they really are.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published November 24, 2011
7 people are currently reading
1257 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
April 10, 2014
Can Neil deGrasse Tyson read this to me before bedtime? That's the only way this book could be better.
February 28, 2017
Poetry, pure and organic.
August 31, 2016
We are made of earth and water and air and stardust.
And so it goes in this beautiful picture book that explains the various connections between us all. The text is simple and paired with the amazing three-dimensional artwork of Soyeon Kim. Children will be enchanted by this book. LOVED.
And so it goes in this beautiful picture book that explains the various connections between us all. The text is simple and paired with the amazing three-dimensional artwork of Soyeon Kim. Children will be enchanted by this book. LOVED.
August 5, 2014
Hippie-dippie, sciency, earthy-crunchy goodness in a book with amazing multi-media artwork. Perfect!
It's hard for me to pick my favorite pages, but here's an attempt:
You drink the same water the dinosaurs drank.
Your head is like the weather.
You shed like a tree.
Animals have friends, too.
Now, let's all go sing "Kumbaya" around the fire.
It's hard for me to pick my favorite pages, but here's an attempt:
You drink the same water the dinosaurs drank.
Your head is like the weather.
You shed like a tree.
Animals have friends, too.
Now, let's all go sing "Kumbaya" around the fire.
November 29, 2012
This I love. It's science, but it reads like poetry, and the 3-dimensional art is exquisite. It presupposes a certain level of knowledge ("Every tiny atom in your body came from a star that exploded long before you were born" is not cluttered with a further explanation of what an atom is)but it's still very accessible for kids. It's full of all kinds of "who knew?" cool facts, like that you sneeze with the force of a tornado and in your every breath there is pollen that may grow to be a new plant.
The Owl Kids website has cool extension information for this book and - hooray! - an app is on its way!
The Owl Kids website has cool extension information for this book and - hooray! - an app is on its way!
February 10, 2019
Kelsey and Kim draw together just a few of the immense connections between humans and the beginnings and workings of Planet Earth. Through a lyrical prose, You Are Stardust evokes the feeling that the world contains a greater, more discrete series of networks that may ever have been imagined. With this comes a sense of belonging, and a reassurance that these connections will continually renew with the emergence of new life. A beautiful and inspiring book to read.
December 12, 2012
My favorite type of information (bats and whales get their friends to babysit! You exhale pollen every time you breathe,) presented in my favorite way-poetically! (your breath is alive with the promise of flowers. Each time you blow a kiss to the world, you spread pollen that might grow to be a new plant..)
November 8, 2017
This gorgeous picture book is about how small we are in such a big world and how we are connected to the world too. The illustrations are beautiful and the writing style is poetic. I think KS1 children would find this book really fascinating and it would be a wonderful way to introduce them to the wonders of life.
January 23, 2014
I really love the concept of this book. It's not easy to introduce evolution, ecology, the human connection to nature to young people and it is done very well here. But I especially love the illustrations. I re-read it immediately to savor them again.
April 13, 2017
What an artsy and beautiful way to teach children the wonders of life! The art and wording is so amazing.
January 11, 2018
Mmmm, whimsical science. A picture book so lovely I had to revisit it again.
January 21, 2016
I've never seen anything like this eloquently expressed and beautifully illustrated book of cosmological thinking for children. Elin Kelsey has done an amazing job choosing details that all kids can connect with, such as hair falling out or the saltiness of tears, and linked them to the much bigger ideas of the cosmos. She claims that each example is backed by current science. The ideas are fascinating and many are new for me. This book will hold much appeal for big thinkers and is likely to inspire curiosity in many others.
So far, I only shared this book with my family and some teens who are not prime target audience, and they all spent time arguing definitions especially whether the electricity in your brain is stronger than lightning. 'In what way?' they wanted to know. They also weren't happy with the idea that the earth breathes. On a brighter note, one teen said he wished he knew about atomic structure in Year 2. I really like this book, but suggest some links to the science might help hush the skeptics.
So far, I only shared this book with my family and some teens who are not prime target audience, and they all spent time arguing definitions especially whether the electricity in your brain is stronger than lightning. 'In what way?' they wanted to know. They also weren't happy with the idea that the earth breathes. On a brighter note, one teen said he wished he knew about atomic structure in Year 2. I really like this book, but suggest some links to the science might help hush the skeptics.
March 4, 2017
Both writer, Elin Kelsey and Soyeon Kim (who have also worked together on other projects Wild Ideas: Let Nature Inspire Your Thinking come together in an utterly beautiful picturebook about how we are all part of a infinite cosmic network. Kelsey's words are boldly poetic but and they are nestled in Kim's beguiling dioramas. Uplifting, optimistic and engaging. I wouldn't be without it.
October 11, 2012
Part picture book, part science, part poetry. I can't decide if the words or pictures are more wonderful - they coexist perfectly. It somehow manages to incorporate the big picture and the enticing details without feeling distracted. I'd recommend this to curious young minds and anyone who enjoys mesmerizing illustrations.
March 5, 2016
Teaches children the magic of nature by showing how connected we are to the earth and its inhabitants. More magical than preachy. Heartfelt and well-informed. Highly recommended.
August 12, 2015
The illustrations are photographs of dioramas! Be sure to look at the inside of the dust jacket.
October 5, 2017
I just love a children's book that isn't patronising, and this is anything but. A poetic and visual masterpiece that is a pure delight!
The story concerns itself with our place amidst the cosmic universe, which should (hopefully) give rise to a multitude of questions from child audiences, as well as introduce some impressive vocabulary.
That being said, the collage-style artwork is so visually arresting that children of all ages will become mesmerised. In fact, you could present the narrative or illustrations alone and still be faced with an impressive and engaging work.
The story concerns itself with our place amidst the cosmic universe, which should (hopefully) give rise to a multitude of questions from child audiences, as well as introduce some impressive vocabulary.
That being said, the collage-style artwork is so visually arresting that children of all ages will become mesmerised. In fact, you could present the narrative or illustrations alone and still be faced with an impressive and engaging work.
January 25, 2021
A lovely story explaining how each one of us was originally stardust and how each aspect of our lives and bodies are connected to nature. A fantastic story with a scientific and exciting theme. The illustrations are very different, each image looking as though it has been cut and stuck on the page. Overall a great book which children would love and find very interesting.
November 8, 2017
This book takes you on a journey through who you are and what it means to be in nature. The illustrations are amazing and really set the scene for the rest of the book. A calming book for children to see how we are connected and the same as nature in many ways.
March 16, 2021
As always, this author/artists pairing deliver us the perfect book. This book is full of the wonder I had as child, learning about how we're all connected. As an adult, I find this book brings me to mindfulness. This is a must have.
July 19, 2021
My coworker showed me this book and it made me cry so five stars for the gorgeous, poetic words and the beautiful art within🥺we really are just little beings made of stardust, all of us magnificent no matter how fleeting our existence may be
December 18, 2020
This is a really lovely and calming read that explains how we are all connected to nature. I love the illustrations, they all look like cut-outs from a storybook.
April 27, 2020
I don't typically include children's books in my Goodreads ratings, but this was just read during a group I am apart of and I really loved it. I want to be sure I save this title so I can gift copies to all of my favorite littles.
April 26, 2018
Review for ata storytime kit -- Science.
Subject:
Human ecology -- Juvenile literature
Ecology -- Juvenile literature
Summary
You Are Stardust begins by introducing the idea that every tiny atom in our bodies came from a star that exploded long before we were born. From its opening pages, the book suggests that we are intimately connected to the natural world; it compares the way we learn to speak to the way baby birds learn to sing, and the growth of human bodies to the growth of forests. Award-winning author Elin Kelsey — along with a number of concerned parents and educators around the world — believes children are losing touch with nature. This innovative picture book aims to reintroduce children to their innate relationship with the world around them by sharing many of the surprising ways that we are all connected to the natural world. Grounded in current science, this extraordinary picture book provides opportunities for children to use their imaginations and wonder about some big ideas. Soyeon Kim’s incredible diorama art enhances the poetic text, and her creative process is explored in full on the reverse side of the book’s jacket, which features comments from the artist. Young readers will want to pore over each page of this book, exploring the detailed artwork and pondering the message of the text, excited to find out just how connected to the Earth they really are.
Author Notes
ELIN KELSEY is an internationally respected leader in the field of environmental science and education, as well as the award-winning author of Not Your Typical Book About The Environment and other books for children and adults. She consults around the world on environmental projects and is an adjunct professor at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and Royal Roads University. She lives in Pacific Grove, California. SOYEON KIM is a Toronto-based, Korean-born artist who specializes in work that merges real-world materials and fine sketching and painting techniques to produce three-dimensional pieces. She is a graduate of the Visual Arts program at York University in Toronto.
Subject:
Human ecology -- Juvenile literature
Ecology -- Juvenile literature
Summary
You Are Stardust begins by introducing the idea that every tiny atom in our bodies came from a star that exploded long before we were born. From its opening pages, the book suggests that we are intimately connected to the natural world; it compares the way we learn to speak to the way baby birds learn to sing, and the growth of human bodies to the growth of forests. Award-winning author Elin Kelsey — along with a number of concerned parents and educators around the world — believes children are losing touch with nature. This innovative picture book aims to reintroduce children to their innate relationship with the world around them by sharing many of the surprising ways that we are all connected to the natural world. Grounded in current science, this extraordinary picture book provides opportunities for children to use their imaginations and wonder about some big ideas. Soyeon Kim’s incredible diorama art enhances the poetic text, and her creative process is explored in full on the reverse side of the book’s jacket, which features comments from the artist. Young readers will want to pore over each page of this book, exploring the detailed artwork and pondering the message of the text, excited to find out just how connected to the Earth they really are.
Author Notes
ELIN KELSEY is an internationally respected leader in the field of environmental science and education, as well as the award-winning author of Not Your Typical Book About The Environment and other books for children and adults. She consults around the world on environmental projects and is an adjunct professor at the Monterey Institute of International Studies and Royal Roads University. She lives in Pacific Grove, California. SOYEON KIM is a Toronto-based, Korean-born artist who specializes in work that merges real-world materials and fine sketching and painting techniques to produce three-dimensional pieces. She is a graduate of the Visual Arts program at York University in Toronto.
March 5, 2017
I had to wait for weeks for a chance to read this from the library, so I had a feeling it would be exceptional, and it is!
The author of this book has a PhD in environmental science education, and works magic in this overview of the ways in which people are an integral part of the natural world.
Three-dimensional dioramas by the artist Soyeon Kim add a sense of wonder to the amazingly brief but cogent, understandable, and yet lyrical text.
Kids will be amazed to learn some of the fascinating facts about the ways we and nature are similar:
Through these and other passages, children learn how connected we all are, but without didacticism or depressing statistics on the depredation of the earth. And of course, I’ve always loved the thought that we all came from stardust:
The illustrations by Kim are so creative and whimsical; I really wish I could hang mobiles based on her art around my house! (And there’s an app for that! Check out this additional feature offered by Owlbooks, here.)
Evaluation: This is an excellent presentation for kids of a complex subject in a way that will not lose their interest, but rather will amaze and delight them, and hopefully entice them to investigate further on their own.
The author of this book has a PhD in environmental science education, and works magic in this overview of the ways in which people are an integral part of the natural world.
Three-dimensional dioramas by the artist Soyeon Kim add a sense of wonder to the amazingly brief but cogent, understandable, and yet lyrical text.
Like fish deep in the ocean,
you called salt water home.
You swam inside the salty sea
Of your mother’s womb.
Salt still flows through your
veins, your sweat, and your tears.
The sea within you is as salty
as the ocean.”
Kids will be amazed to learn some of the fascinating facts about the ways we and nature are similar:
Inside your brain, electricity
stronger than lightening
powers your every thought.
You sneeze with the force of a tornado.
Wind rockets from your nose quicker
than a cheetah sprints.”
Through these and other passages, children learn how connected we all are, but without didacticism or depressing statistics on the depredation of the earth. And of course, I’ve always loved the thought that we all came from stardust:
Every tiny atom in your body came from a star that exploded long before you were born.”
The illustrations by Kim are so creative and whimsical; I really wish I could hang mobiles based on her art around my house! (And there’s an app for that! Check out this additional feature offered by Owlbooks, here.)
Evaluation: This is an excellent presentation for kids of a complex subject in a way that will not lose their interest, but rather will amaze and delight them, and hopefully entice them to investigate further on their own.
March 17, 2020
Author Elin Kelsey and Illustrator Soyeon Kim find a way to show the connections between humanity and the universe in this beautiful book, You Are Stardust. This informational text compares the human body to the infinite wonders of the universe. This book describes some of the following: how we learn to speak the same way as birds, by repeating what our parents say, how the water we drink was once used by dinosaurs, and how the cells in our body are constantly changing. These are just a few of the awe-inducing examples that this book touches on. This is a WOW book for me because of how interesting the content of this book is. This book also is written in verse and shows that not all poetry or creative writing has to be fiction. Finally, this is a WOW book for me because of how amazing and descriptive the illustrations are.
This is a book that could be used at any level as exposure to a complex-text. I would use this book for grades 3-5. This also could be a mentor text to teach poetry or writing in verse. I would use this book as the mentor-text to highlight specific language to use incorporate in their writing. Then, as a class, students could create a poem with the teacher before moving into independent practice. This book could also be used throughout many science standards and lessons. This book could be read as an introduction to the science lesson and then exploring the topic in great detail with other resources and experiments. Some science lessons that an educator could introduce would be cell reproduction, human anatomy, the water cycle, and many more.
Overall, this is a lovely book that fits into multiple genres and would be a great addition to any classroom library!
This is a book that could be used at any level as exposure to a complex-text. I would use this book for grades 3-5. This also could be a mentor text to teach poetry or writing in verse. I would use this book as the mentor-text to highlight specific language to use incorporate in their writing. Then, as a class, students could create a poem with the teacher before moving into independent practice. This book could also be used throughout many science standards and lessons. This book could be read as an introduction to the science lesson and then exploring the topic in great detail with other resources and experiments. Some science lessons that an educator could introduce would be cell reproduction, human anatomy, the water cycle, and many more.
Overall, this is a lovely book that fits into multiple genres and would be a great addition to any classroom library!
July 23, 2013
Elin Kelsey is not only the author of this book, but she is also an environmental scientist. Her love for the environment shines through in through in this book. Adult readers will be amazed at how well the author succeeds in explaining to younger children how very close our human connection is with nature.
For example, we see that people shed their hair much like trees shed their leaves, and how our life began with just a single atom, as was true for the lives of fish, dinosaurs and other living things. When we were very young, we learned to speak much the same way baby birds learn to sing -- we are taught by our family.
This book is lovely as well as educational. It teaches children how animals depend upon one another and it is a book that will make young children ask questions. Once children read this book (or have it read to them), they will want to learn more about how they are connected to nature and all that we have in common.
Soyean Kim's brightly colored dioramas are a combination of pen, pencil, ink and paper-cuts. They make for truly wonderful illustrations, that not only add interest, but also help little ones (K-2) better understand the world that surrounds them.
Highly recommended - especially for libraries and classrooms. Add it to your wish list.
For example, we see that people shed their hair much like trees shed their leaves, and how our life began with just a single atom, as was true for the lives of fish, dinosaurs and other living things. When we were very young, we learned to speak much the same way baby birds learn to sing -- we are taught by our family.
This book is lovely as well as educational. It teaches children how animals depend upon one another and it is a book that will make young children ask questions. Once children read this book (or have it read to them), they will want to learn more about how they are connected to nature and all that we have in common.
Soyean Kim's brightly colored dioramas are a combination of pen, pencil, ink and paper-cuts. They make for truly wonderful illustrations, that not only add interest, but also help little ones (K-2) better understand the world that surrounds them.
Highly recommended - especially for libraries and classrooms. Add it to your wish list.
November 27, 2014
This is a very, very cool book. While it might be better appreciated by older children than toddlers, it would still be a worthwhile addition to a child's library; they'll grow into the text one day (and, in the meantime, there is plenty to look at on the pages).
The message that runs throughout the book is one of interconnectedness. We are part of nature, and we have so much in common with the world that we live on and the creatures we share it with. I thought it was a neat message for a kids' book, and the fact that it's all backed up by science makes the message even more powerful.
The illustrations were also like nothing I've ever seen. It was as if the illustrator drew and built tiny little characters and then placed them into mixed-media settings... and then photographed the whole thing to give selective focus to certain areas of the illustrations. It's a great effect and gives the book a really unique look.
I really enjoyed You Are Stardust, and I would definitely recommend it!
Quotable moment:
http://theladybugreads.blogspot.com/2...
The message that runs throughout the book is one of interconnectedness. We are part of nature, and we have so much in common with the world that we live on and the creatures we share it with. I thought it was a neat message for a kids' book, and the fact that it's all backed up by science makes the message even more powerful.
The illustrations were also like nothing I've ever seen. It was as if the illustrator drew and built tiny little characters and then placed them into mixed-media settings... and then photographed the whole thing to give selective focus to certain areas of the illustrations. It's a great effect and gives the book a really unique look.
I really enjoyed You Are Stardust, and I would definitely recommend it!
Quotable moment:
Salt still flows through your
veins, your sweat, and your tears.
The sea within you is as salty
as the ocean.
http://theladybugreads.blogspot.com/2...
July 3, 2014
Every atom in your body heavier than hydrogen was forged in the heart of a dying star. When you cast your eyes upwards to the sky, you see the refineries of the building blocks of life. We humans, we earthlings, are a part of nature and a continuous part of the vast universe that we inhabit. We are the way that that incomprehensibly large universe reflects upon itself.
I first encountered the poetic beauty of these ideas when I read Carl Sagan in college. As a parent, I've tried to explain these big ideas to my son. I'm pleased that Elin Kelsey and Soyeon Kim have given me a tool to help explain these concepts to my son in their magnificent You Are Stardust.
Elin Kelsey's elegant yet simple prose ("The water swirling in your glass once filled the puddles where dinosaurs drank.") is well matched with Soyeon Kim's beautiful and elaborately constructed collages. You Are Stardust is aesthetically and intellectually rewarding - it is a joy to read and is sure to inspire deep questions from the little one in your life.
This review and more like it available at http://bibliopapa.blogspot.com/2014/0...
I first encountered the poetic beauty of these ideas when I read Carl Sagan in college. As a parent, I've tried to explain these big ideas to my son. I'm pleased that Elin Kelsey and Soyeon Kim have given me a tool to help explain these concepts to my son in their magnificent You Are Stardust.
Elin Kelsey's elegant yet simple prose ("The water swirling in your glass once filled the puddles where dinosaurs drank.") is well matched with Soyeon Kim's beautiful and elaborately constructed collages. You Are Stardust is aesthetically and intellectually rewarding - it is a joy to read and is sure to inspire deep questions from the little one in your life.
This review and more like it available at http://bibliopapa.blogspot.com/2014/0...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews