Space Dictionary for Kids: The Everything Guide for Kids Who Love Space

Gr 3-6--This specialized dictionary features fascinating information paired with stellar illustrations. The book is organized into six major sections. The first four are alphabetically ordered definitions of words related to cosmology, stars, galaxies, our solar system, astrobiology, and exoplanets. The last two sections are an overview of space exploration, from the creation of telescopes to manned missions and the International Space Station. Detailed images and sidebars help to keep the reading level in the upper elementary range. However, the "for Kids" in the title may lessen its appeal to tweens. The book is as up-to-date as possible in a field that is constantly making new discoveries, with major findings from 2015 included and numerical facts consistently prefaced with "As of 2016...." Though a dictionary format may not appeal to all readers, the design is attractive and the content is especially useful as a counterpoint in collections that already contain narrative nonfiction titles on the topic. VERDICT A valuable astronomy resource with a place in juvenile collections of any size.--Kacy Helwick, New Orleans Public Library