The Fire Of Stars

Author:

Kirsten W. Larson

Illustrator:

Katherine Roy

Published by:

Chronicle Books

First Published:

16 Feb 2023

Ideal for readers aged

9-12y

My Review

This is a fabulous picture book biography of Cecilia Payne, the pioneering female astro-physicist who first proposed that stars are made of helium and hydrogen. The combination of stunning illustrations which play on light and dark, and have a dusky, dusty, laboratory feel to them, with the gorgeously lyrical writing style of Kirsten Larson, is a winner, making this perfect for reading aloud to children studying physics or space. Payne did not receive a degree from Cambridge despite completing her studies, but her work on the nature of the universe was foundational to modern astrophysics. Her success opened the door for the countless female astronomers who have followed in her footsteps. This book is a fitting tribute - awe inspiring and full of the wonder of wondering!

Heads Up!

Kirsten Larson has also penned 'Wood, Wire, Wings', a biography of Emma Lilian Todd. A new book by her, due out in late 2025, 'This Is How You Know', promises to be an inspiring one for budding scientists!

Publisher Review

A poetic picture book celebration of the life and scientific discoveries of ground-breaking astronomer Cecilia Payne! Astronomer and astrophysicist Cecilia Payne was the first person to discover what burns at the heart of stars. But she didn't start out as the ground-breaking scientist she would eventually become. She started out as a girl burning with curiosity, chasing the thrilling lightning bolt of discovery, hoping one day to unlock the mysteries of the universe. With lyrical, evocative text by Kirsten W. Larson and extraordinary illustrations by award-winning illustrator Katherine Roy, this moving biography powerfully parallels the kindling of Cecilia Payne's own curiosity and her scientific career with the process of a star's birth, from mere possibility in an expanse of space to an eventual, breath-taking explosion of light.