Direct link: https://www.quartoknows.com/books/9781633225183/The-Know-Nonsense-Guide-to-Space.html

Space, the final frontier...and it certainly can feel that way if you have a child that is averse to learning anything about the subject. I suppose that it can be a dry topic, if approached in the wrong way, which is perhaps the reason that the author decided to write this book, The Know-Nonsense Guide to Space - An Awesomely Fun Guide To The Universe. My daughter has helped me in reviewing it, and we both agree, that it is a very fun guide, indeed! I remember my school days, sitting in a science class or two, and feeling completely bored, and lost, if the truth be told. Isn't that sad, when we have this vast and amazing creation from our God? It is anything but boring! That being the case, I am happy that there are writers that take the time and make a topic come alive.

This is a sixty-four page, sturdy, hardcover book. The first detail that my daughter and I noticed upon opening the book, was the vibrant violent color of the first page. It is eye catching, and we both like it very much. If that pretty color doesn't grab you, the Introduction page should draw you in nicely. It details the main topics that will be covered, with a mix of small and large fonts, humor, and cartoonish illustrations of a space creature.

The material is divided into three main sections:

1.) The Solar System covers, you guessed it, the Solar System, as in, the Planets, the Asteroid Belt, Comets, and The Oort Cloud. You didn't know what the Oort Cloud was? Neither did, I before reading about it in this book. It is an extremely big, icy bubble, made up of ice pieces. Read all about it on page thirty-four. For each planet, information is provided regarding its diameter, distance from the sun, the time it takes to orbit the sun, and how long it takes to spin on its axis.

2.) Galaxies educate us about The Milky Way, Andromeda Galaxy, Nebula, Star, Life Cycle of a Star, and Black Hole. It seems that I missed quite a bit in my childhood education, because I had no idea that there were different types of Galaxies. As the section on planets does, the pages dedicated to Galaxies outline individual characteristics, that is, the Galaxy type, and how many light years wide it is.

3.) Exploring Space brings humans into the story. In these pages, readers will learn about the first men to launch into Space. Also covered in this section is the instrument used to study Outer Space, that is, the telescope. It also touches briefly on Satellites, Astronauts, Robot exploration of other Planets, and the International Space Station.

This is classified as a juvenile fiction book, but my thirteen-year-old daughter and I really enjoyed it. The information is presented in a clear, concise manner, with lots of fun and whimsical illustrations, and healthy splashes of humor. This book is perfect for those who have a hard time getting interested in the subject of Space. There is a brief nod to evolution, but it is very brief, maybe a sentence or two, and is easily skipped over if you like. I really like this book a lot, and I will be keeping a copy on my shelf for future reference, as I need it. My daughter and I both give it our nod of approval.

-Product review by Laurie Gauger, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, November, 2018