The Sun: Shining Star of the Solar System

A nonfiction picture book that explores a very important star—the sun! Kids ages 5 to 8 listen as the Universe explains key facts about our cosmic lifeline!

There are trillions of stars in the universe, but one is particularly important to people on planet Earth—our sun. Without it, there’d be no humans, no animals, no plants—no life whatsoever! Earth would be dark, cold, and empty. That’s a pretty bleak picture!

In The Sun: Shining Star of the Solar System, the Universe itself explains the relationship between the sun and Earth. Kids ages 5 through 8 discover how the sun’s place in the solar system gives us the days, seasons, and years we experience on our planet. They learn alongside funny alien characters how the sun supports life on our planet and how it’s related to the weather. The Universe, an engaging narrator, discusses complex scientific concepts in a way that children find easy to understand while the aliens offer a running commentary that’s hilariously entertaining. Plus, a poem at the beginning encourages language arts connections!

Layered text, informative illustrations, and a hands-on science-minded activity offer deeper exploration of the sun and its importance to Earth. Perfect as a read aloud or for beginner readers, with a glossary to support language development.

The Sun: Shining Star of the Solar System is part of a set of four books in the Picture Book Science series that explore our incredible solar system. Other titles in this series include The Stars: A Gazillion Suns; The Earth: One-of-a-Kind Planet; and The Moon: Small-but-Mighty Neighbor.

• Provides layered text and back matter that encourage more in-depth discovery
• Promotes a sense of awe and wonder in astronomy
• Uses humor to engage children’s attention
• Promotes cross-curriculum learning through poetry
• Includes a hands-on, science-minded project to help support and reinforce deeper learning
• Meets Next Generation Science Standards in Earth’s Place in the Universe and Space Systems: Patterns and Cycles for grades K through 3.

Nomad Press books in the Picture Book Science series present real-world examples of science topics kids find fascinating! These nonfiction picture books consist of engaging narratives paired with detailed, accurate illustrations and layered text that offers ample opportunity for discussion and reflection. Elementary-aged children are equipped to recognize basic science concepts and identify the different ways they are demonstrated in real life, while being impressed with the idea that science is a constant part of our lives and not limited to classrooms and laboratories.

All books are leveled for Guided Reading level and Lexile and align with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.

All titles are available in paperback, hardcover, and ebook formats.

Laura Perdew is an author, writing consultant, and former middle school teacher. She has written more than 30 books for the education market on a wide range of subjects including, wetlands conservation, renewable energy, animal adaptations, and extinction. Her book Biodiversity: Explore the Diversity of Life on Earth (Nomad Press, 2019) earned a Booklist starred review and was a Junior Library Guild selection. Laura is a long-time member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and an avid runner and hiker. She lives in Boulder, Colorado.

Shululu (Hui Li) has always been driven by curiosity. She is the illustrator of several nonfiction picture books from Nomad Press. She earned a PhD in computational chemistry from the University of Chicago and her research has been published in the world's most influential science journals, including Science and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. She lives with her family in New York, New York.