A nonfiction picture book that explores a very important star―the sun! Kids ages 5 to 8 listen as the Universe explains key facts about our cosmic lifeline!

There are trillions of stars in the universe, but one is particularly important to people on planet Earth―our sun. Without it, there’d be no humans, no animals, no plants―no life whatsoever! Earth would be dark, cold, and empty. That’s a pretty bleak picture!

In The Sun: Shining Star of the Solar System, the Universe itself explains the relationship between the sun and Earth. Kids ages 5 through 8 discover how the sun’s place in the solar system gives us the days, seasons, and years we experience on our planet. They learn alongside funny alien characters how the sun supports life on our planet and how it’s related to the weather. The Universe, a friendly and knowledgeable narrator, discusses complex scientific concepts in a way that children find easy to understand while the aliens offer a running commentary that’s hilariously entertaining. Plus, a poem at the beginning encourages language arts connections!

Layered text, informative illustrations, fun facts, and a hands-on science-minded activity offer deeper exploration of the sun and its importance to Earth. Perfect as a read aloud or for beginner readers, with a glossary to support language development.

The Sun: Shining Star of the Solar System is part of a set of four books in the Picture Book Science series that explore our incredible solar system. Other titles in this series include The Stars: A Gazillion Suns; The Earth: One-of-a-Kind Planet; and The Moon: Small but Mighty Neighbor.

Provides layered text and back matter that encourage more in-depth discovery
Promotes a sense of awe and wonder in astronomy
Uses humor to engage children’s attention
Promotes cross-curriculum learning through poetry
Includes a hands-on, science-minded project to help support and reinforce deeper learning
Meets Next Generation Science Standards in Earth’s Place in the Universe and Space Systems: Patterns and Cycles for grades K through 3.