Informational Picture Book: Look Up!

Title: Look Up
Author: Robert Burleigh
Publication: 2013

I really found this book fascinating because when you think about famous astronomers, Henrietta Levitt, gets lost in the mix. I don't ever remember studying or learning about her. However, her story is an empowering one. The author also adds informational text to the narrative so that the reader is learning while reading.

During Henrietta's time, women were not astronomers (she was born in 1868). She was forced to work with all the other women recording information. She wanted to be an real astronomer though. Countless nights, she spent counting and drawing stars, which led to her discovery about the brightness of stars. I love how the author phrases her discovery in Henrietta's words, "I am an astronomer!". This reminds me of the day in class when we were talking about feedback we've had from teachers and one of my colleagues' teacher wrote on his piece of writing that "You are a writer." How powerful!!! This sentence does the same for Henrietta. It helps the reader realize that if you put your mind to it, you can become or do what you want.

I would definitely use this book in my class to weave science into reading literature. The author adds a great afterword to the book that gives more information about Henrietta, what she discovered, what other women astronomers did and a glossary of astronomy words. I think this would allow some students who are apprehensive about learning science, become more open to it once they hear a narrative story built into science. I'll leave you with one last piece that really encompasses the beauty of stars through words. The author added a section to the back of the book..."What people have said about stars"...

"The stars hang bright above, silent, as if they watched the sleeping earth" 

- Samuel Taylor Coleridge

"The stars are the jewels of the night, and perchance surpass anything which day has to show"

 - Henry David Thoreau