Am I Made of Stardust?

This attractive hardback by inspirational space scientist Dr Maggie is the second book she has written. Known to many as an enthusiastic presenter on the new BBC series of The Sky at Night and CBeebies’ Mini Stargazing, she has encouraged many young people to learn more about science. Dr Maggie is currently President of the British Science Association and has been awarded the MBE.

The book is well laid out: three chapters plus occasional ‘Try this at Home Activities’ and Astro Facts. The first chapter covers The Universe, looking at black holes and the Big Bang for instance. In the second chapter entitled Our Solar System, the author answers lots of questions about the sun and the planets as well as shooting stars and eclipses. The third and final chapter is devoted to Humans in Space, focussing on spaceships, astronauts and our future in space. Questions here range from ‘How do astronauts breathe inside spaceships?’ and ‘What does space smell like?’ to ‘Will everyone be travelling into space 100 years from now?’

Having been published ready for World Space Week (4th-10th October 2022) I think this is a great book for young people to dip into. It is bursting with interesting facts and appropriate illustrations. The question-and-answer format works well and presents a lot of information clearly. Both the Contents page at the front of the book and the Glossary at the back are detailed and very helpful for young readers. As the front cover clearly states ‘Dr Maggie Answers the Big Questions for Young Scientists.’ This would be a welcome addition to any home, classroom or library as it involves readers educating themselves about science, engaging in fun activities and learning topical facts too.