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Marinov, Isabelle

The Boy Whose Head Was Filled with Stars: A Life of Edwin Hubble

48 pp. | Enchanted Lion | January, 2021 | Trade ISBN 978-1-59270-317-3 $17.95
(2) K-3 Illustrated by Deborah Marcero. Set against a dramatic background of black, white, and ice-blue watercolors, this picture-book biography of Edwin Hubble (1889–1953) emphasizes the vastness and wonder of the night sky that drove his passion for astronomy. As a child, Edwin would gaze up at the heavens, asking: "How many stars are in the sky? How did the universe begin? Where did it come from?" His father had little patience for such diversions and discouraged Edwin's interest in science. After his father's death, however, Edwin enrolled in the University of Chicago to major in astronomy. Taking his first job at the Mount Wilson Observatory (where striking illustrations show him, night after night, at its giant telescope), Hubble discovered that the Milky Way is but one galaxy, merely a small part of a vast universe. The book's explanation of how Hubble proved that the universe is expanding may be beyond the complete understanding of the audience, but referencing the previous work of astronomer Henrietta Swan Leavitt helps show children that scientists do not act alone, but rather metaphorically stand on the shoulders of others. Repeated throughout the text, the three questions that initiated Hubble's interest emphasize his lifelong drive and persistence. Also repeated are visual motifs, first a grouping of stars, reminiscent of thought balloons, surrounding Hubble's head when he studies or contemplates astronomy; more striking is the vast majesty of the night sky that dominates both Hubble's interest and the reader's attention. Appended with author and illustrator notes, additional information about Edwin Hubble and the Hubble-Lemaître Law, and a bibliography.
Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2021

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