Imagine yourself as an atom in an exploding star. What has that atom been part of before it became a part of us?
I love science and the book You Are Stardust by Elin Kelsey combines current science with a touch a picture book magic.And poetry. . .
Be still. Listen.
Like you, the Earth breathes.
Your breath is alive with the promise of flowers.
Each time you blow a kiss to the world, you spread pollen that might grow to be a new plant.
Big ideas inspire you to go an a magical exploratory think dive into everything from atoms, cheetahs to dinosaurs.
“Everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was … lived there — on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam,” Carl Sagan marveled in his poetic Pale Blue Dot where he reflected and marvelled at a photo taken of space of Earth.
This book explores interesting facts like “every day you breathe in more than a million pollen grains” and “the flame is you fireplace comes from the sun” (see video below).
I absolutely love the idea with the little dioramas that artist Soyeon Kim used to illustrate the book. Tactile physical materials are mixed with delicate drawings, which has been digital combined to create a wondrous atmosphere that entice you to explore the questions related to our somewhat intertwined existence.
The water in your sink once quenched the thirst of dinosaurs and the electricity that powers every thought in your brain is stronger than lightning.
You Are Stardust is the perfect gift for all curious children – small and big.
You can download a guide from that shows how you can turn a scene into a diorama and Common Core Learning Standards lesson plan is here.