Science Books & Films' Best Books for Children, 1988-91

ASIMOV ISAAC. Ancient Astronomy. (Illus.; from Isaac Asimov's Library of the Universe Series.) Milwaukee: Gareth Stevens, 1989. 32pp. $12.95. 88-17564. ISBN 1-55532-368-5. Glossary; Index; C.I.P. Earth: Our Home Base. 87-42607. ISBN 1-55532-362-6. How Was the Universe Born? 87-42602. ISBN 1-55532-358-8. Saturn: The Ringed Beauty. 88-17563. ISBN 1-55532-364-2. The Space Spotter's Guide. 87-42600. ISBN 1-55532-356-1. Unidentified Flying Objects. 87-42604. ISBN 1-55532-355-3. El, EA

Each volume provides an overview of its subject, rich with illustrations and fact for the elementary school reader. One of the best features is the facts file at the end of each book, which is a quick reference guide to the subject of the volume. Two errors are worth noting: on page 20 of Earth: Our Home Base, the photograph of earth is printed backwards; and on page 24 in How Was the Universe Born?it is stated that "When a very large star explodes, it becomes a supernova," when, in fact, it is mass, not size, that determines the fate of a star. Also, on pages 14 and 15 of The Space Spotter's Guide there is a map and a discussion about observing the Andromeda galaxy, but the galaxy's position is not indicated on the map. There is an index volume to this series, which should be helpful. Overall, I highly recommend this series as an introductory overview to the universe.-- Thomas A. Lesser, The Fund for the Borough of Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY

ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF THE PACIFIC. Tapes of the Night Sky: A Guided Tour of the Stars. (Illus.) San Francisco: Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 1988. 60pp. 2 audio cassettes. $23.95 (paper). ISBN 0-937707-17-1 (paper). EA-YA, GA

A fascinating yet frustrating aspect of astronomy experienced by novice observers is simply learning their way around the night sky, often armed only with star maps illuminated by a flashlight swathed in red cellophane. Happily, these

-21-