Nova the Star Eater

by Lindsay Leslie, John Taesoo Kim (Illustrations)

Nova has a big appetite for stars, so when she decides to gobble up Earth’s Sun, panic erupts around the globe. Earth needs its Sun to survive! How will it get it back from Nova? One bright little girl just might have a solution.

Genres: Picture Books, Space, Science, Childrens, Storytime, Stem, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

A diary keeper, a journalism major, a public relations executive, now a children’s author—Lindsay Leslie has always operated in a world of written words. She likes to bring her unique outlook on life, quirky humor, and play with words to the page in picture books. Lindsay is the award-winning author of GUS HEARTS THE BUS, SO YOU WANT TO BUILD A LIBRARY, DUSK EXPLORERS (an SCBWI Crystal Kite Award winner, Kirkus starred review, Bank Street Best Book of 2021 with Outstanding Merit, and Amazon Editors’ Pick), NOVA THE STAR EATER, and THIS BOOK IS SPINELESS (Booklist starred review). Lindsay lives in Austin, Texas, with her sci-fi/horror novelist husband, Ryan Leslie, two kiddos, and two fur-beasts.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

An attempt to combine scientific information in a "funny" picture book format fell flat for me. While the initial premise was kind of charming, it quickly dissolved into a meandering, weird storyline with a silly (not the good kind) solution and ending. I didn't care for the illustrations either making this a dud for me.

[Allie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure how I feel about this one. I wanted it to be a STEM kind of picture book, but really the only scientific things about it are some of the terms. Nova comes along and eats our sun, and then Earth's inhabitants band together to try and save our sun from being digested. I mean, sure? No, not really.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nova is a star eater and when she eats the sun the people on Earth have to find a way to get it back. It is a small child that comes up with the idea of tickling Nova to help her cough up the sun.

A good picture book for children who love space.

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book looks a lot like the nonfiction planet books by another author. It is not even close. This is a meandering fiction without any scientific accuracy.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

2021 March Madness Book Bracket, paired against The Stuff of Stars. We all preferred Nova.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nova loves to glide through the galazy munching and crunching on all of the yummy stars she finds. Until oh no! She gobbled up a very important star, the people of Earth are in a panic! Nova swallowed their beloved sun and now it is up to the humans to find a solution before it is too late. Can the leaders and educators of the world solve this terrible problem? Or will they rely on some quick thinking from an unexpected source? Grab your copy to find out what happens in this fun tale: Nova The Star Eater.
📖 My children and I loved reading this story and learning some cool facts about our stars and planets! Nova’s colorful illustrations and silly antics left us giggling.
📖 I can always tell a story is winner if one of my kids asks me to read it again! I had to promise another read after school today, we may have to make this library find a permanent add to our collection.

[Erin Buhr]

This is a fictional story about our sun getting eaten by a star eating nova but there is plenty of nonfiction, scientific information built into the text to assist any interest, unit or project about the sun, the Earth or our galaxy. My kids loved the burps from poor gassy Nova and the little girl who saves the day with her solution that could only have come from a child. I also loved the international collaboration that was worked into the story. It is written how I hope our world would face an epic and time sensitive conflict like our sun disappearing. Creative and fun, a great outer-space and environmental story for preschoolers and up.

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this one! I love the title and was drawn to the cover art, but the interior art was oddly placed at times and the story was not at all what I expected. Particularly, the combination of fiction and non-fiction was confusing, the bodily functions unnecessary, and the back and forth of the politicians was awkward and exhausting to read. Color me disappointed.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fictional story about a nova with non-fiction back matter explaining what a nova is. Back matter and colorful illustrations show what the people of the earth might do if the Nova ate our biggest star, the Sun. How this would affect the people and bringing together other nations to solve how to get the sun back. Beautiful color illustrations on black or white backgrounds. As fiction, the nova talks to the earthlings.

[Jenna Grodzicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute story about Nova, who eats the sun, which results in worldwide panic on Earth. World leaders, scientists, and astronauts are at a loss for what to do. It takes a silly idea from one little girl to make things right. While the story is fictional, it does a nice job explaining the importance of the sun to our planet, and it introduces some scientific words that will likely be new to young readers. Back matter is perfect for readers who are "hungry" for more information.

[Cathy Breisacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a clever tale that gives readers a fun glimpse into some astronomy vocabulary, while also showing the importance of the sun, especially to everyone on earth. Nova has all of the world’s scientific leaders perplexed. Filled with fun facts and humor, NOVA is quite the star! I love books where readers can both be entertained and learn something new.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the concept is adorable and the art is gorgeous, the writing is lacking, especially in the "show not tell" department. Demonstrating how the sun helps the earth by way of visuals and text, rather than a full page of text, would have had far more emotional impact and felt far less like a wall of exposition.

[Sheri Dillard · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderfully imaginative tale! Nova is going about her day, eating her usual diet of stars, when she eats Earth's sun. (This is a big problem for Earth, obviously! :) An enormous problem! World leaders try to solve it. Astronauts try to solve it. But it takes the clever thinking of one young girl to figure out the best solution. Fun story with lots of great info on stars and our sun.

[Viviane Elbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fictional book about Nova, a star eater, who one day eats the sun. People on earth immediately spring into action to get the sun back, and a bright little girl comes up with a solution.
Although this book is sci-fi for young ones, back-matter shares a few non-fiction facts about our sun and the planets.

[Andy Narwhal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nova The Star Eater by Lindsay Leslie & John Taesoo Kim
A clever mix of #NF #Astronomy and silly sci-fi. Astronauts and scientists fret over what to do after the giant Nova eats our sun. (She didn’t know we were using it, honest!) Luckily there’s an imaginative little girl who just might have the solution. From Page Street Kids
#PB #kidlit #AndyReads #STEM

[Stephanie Ward]

Nova is hungry and gobbles up the sun. How will Earth survive without her? And what does the sun do for Earth anyway? Readers will learn all about our solar system and lesser-known space facts -- like red and white dwarf stars -- when they blast off into space with Nova the Star Eater.

[Amanda Sincavage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesn't love a book about a girl who solves a problem that adults can't?! Kids will also love the anthropomorphic character with a sense of humor, the gassy climax, and space setting. Plus, back matter offers a jumping point for further discussion about our solar system.

[Kareena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative, but very wordy... Could work for storytime. Better for older kids though.

[Lorrie]

A great read aloud to introduce the sun and stars. 3-5 grade.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely illustrations. My child was left perplexed by the mix of fiction and facts, however.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't in love with this book. But I think it did a good job roughly explaining the importance of the sun to our universe.

[Amanda Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Nova gobbles up Earth’s sun, the people of Earth have to work together to get out of this planetary pickle. Nova the Star Eater is FUN, exciting, cleverly informative, and hilarious!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute, funny story that introduces children to some basic information about outer space, while still being silly and attention catching

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! We loved the vivid illustrations. Good lessons about Earth and the necessity of our Sun.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful - said the leader of Peru

[Emily✨ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute idea, but too wordy.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

An elementary and up picture book about the Sun being eaten and everyone trying to figure out how to get it back. Real life facts sprinkled in.

[feux d'artifice · Rating 3 out of 5]

Illustrations r rly cute lmao story ok 3.5 stars

[Emily Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun book that explains how much we need the Sun right here on Earth! Fun and engaging

[Angélica · Rating 3 out of 5]

unrealistic smh