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Beyond: Discoveries from the Outer Reaches of Space
Journey far beyond our solar system and explore the marvels of interstellar space. A wonder-filled poem and spectacular illustrations bring readers across the observable universe to encounter dwarf planets, black holes, brand-new stars, and other incredible phenomena. Award-winning author Miranda Paul and illustrator Sija Hong present a fresh and fascinating journey to the outer reaches of outer space.
32 pages, Hardcover
Published April 6, 2021
46 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Miranda Paul
18 books152 followersMiranda Paul has worked as a teacher, volunteer zookeeper, and freelance writer--among other things. She is passionate about creating stories for young readers that inspire, entertain, and broaden horizons. Miranda is also a thrill-seeker, and one of her bravest moments involved reciting poetry from inside a crocodile pit. (Yikes!)
In addition to being a picture book author, Miranda is a team member of We Need Diverse Books™ and a volunteer for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Learn more at www.mirandapaul.com.
In addition to being a picture book author, Miranda is a team member of We Need Diverse Books™ and a volunteer for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Learn more at www.mirandapaul.com.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 13, 2021
With artistic flair, these pages travel beyond our more familiar solar system to explore lesser known attributes in our universe.
Starting with an adult and child, gazing from Earth into space, this book launches from the more familiar solar system, through the Milky Way, and out to the places beyond...and hence, then name Beyond. It explores various anomalies, which don't exist within the Milky Way, and allows the reader to gain a quick introduction to the amazing wonders of our universe. There are small circles on the side, which give a the general distance that these things can be found from Earth. At the end of the book, there is a large amount of text, which goes into more detailed information as well as offers places where readers can learn more themselves.
The text isn't about describing the various places and things with scientific details, but rather presents a poetic scene, which allows the various things to gain atmosphere and feeling. The vocabulary and form is a bit heavy for younger readers...and at moments, can even be a challenge for slightly older readers. Even the distance bubbles will mean little to many younger readers, but those with an interest in the direction already will have a better grip on this. The last bit of text at the end is also written for the older end of readers, edging more toward older middle graders. However, there is very little text on each page, making it appear as if it's for the younger end.
The illustrations are very artistic and beautifully made. They do tend to blend together as the pages continues, since the color schemes and style doesn't really change. Plus, the artistic impression made it sometimes hard to really identify what was going on. So, from the fact end, I wasn't really impressed...but for those who love poetry, it's nicely done.
All in all, this is a beautiful book for true space lovers but those who want the artistic impression along with their facts. I'm just not sure which age group I'd recommend this to. Younger listeners and readers will be lost. Middle graders, who might enjoy the science end, will lose interest and understanding with the strong artistic flair...and older readers (high school and beyond), will find the text too light. But it's pretty and great for the right reader.
I received an ARC through Netgalley.
Starting with an adult and child, gazing from Earth into space, this book launches from the more familiar solar system, through the Milky Way, and out to the places beyond...and hence, then name Beyond. It explores various anomalies, which don't exist within the Milky Way, and allows the reader to gain a quick introduction to the amazing wonders of our universe. There are small circles on the side, which give a the general distance that these things can be found from Earth. At the end of the book, there is a large amount of text, which goes into more detailed information as well as offers places where readers can learn more themselves.
The text isn't about describing the various places and things with scientific details, but rather presents a poetic scene, which allows the various things to gain atmosphere and feeling. The vocabulary and form is a bit heavy for younger readers...and at moments, can even be a challenge for slightly older readers. Even the distance bubbles will mean little to many younger readers, but those with an interest in the direction already will have a better grip on this. The last bit of text at the end is also written for the older end of readers, edging more toward older middle graders. However, there is very little text on each page, making it appear as if it's for the younger end.
The illustrations are very artistic and beautifully made. They do tend to blend together as the pages continues, since the color schemes and style doesn't really change. Plus, the artistic impression made it sometimes hard to really identify what was going on. So, from the fact end, I wasn't really impressed...but for those who love poetry, it's nicely done.
All in all, this is a beautiful book for true space lovers but those who want the artistic impression along with their facts. I'm just not sure which age group I'd recommend this to. Younger listeners and readers will be lost. Middle graders, who might enjoy the science end, will lose interest and understanding with the strong artistic flair...and older readers (high school and beyond), will find the text too light. But it's pretty and great for the right reader.
I received an ARC through Netgalley.
April 5, 2022
Beautiful graphics. Boring text.
May 26, 2021
A lyrical homage to space and the outer reaches of the universe, this book is a feast with its dramatic text and illustrations. Awe-inspiring facts such as Kepler-16b's two suns and an exoplanet where, quite possibly, it rains rubies and sapphires, are scattered throughout these pages. While it may not serve research purposes, this title is definitely a beautiful introduction to the subject of outer space. Back matter provides further information for curious and interested minds.
April 6, 2021
This book opens the window to the joys and amazement of the universe to kids between 5 and 9 years of age. Given the age of the targeted readers, one might have doubts and reservations about the feasibility of such an idea, but Miranda has achieved precisely that.
Illustrations are made by Sija Hong, which are precise and descriptive. Very rarely would you see such a symphony of words and pictures. In other words, the illustrations very aptly and precisely depict the facts that Miranda is trying to convey. The text is written in the form of poetic verses. This way, both Miranda and Sija have successfully fused their respective twin passions of science and poetry, and science and art, respectively.
Towards the end of the book the author gives more information about the concepts that were earlier presented in the form of verses and factual bits. These include Kuiper Belt, Oort Cloud, Exoplanets, Black Hole and entities like supercluster and Nebula. The book closes with notes from the author and the illustrator, suggested material for further reading and bibliography.
This book is a wonderful composition of science, poetry and art. It would definitely ignite the creative and imaginative spark in your child. You may consider sitting with your kids holding this book, reading out loud and explaining the various terms and illustrations. Or if they are smart enough, they may explore on their own. This book has enough potential to attract and pull them into the wonderful world of astrophysics. Beyond will make a good birthday gift for your child.
Illustrations are made by Sija Hong, which are precise and descriptive. Very rarely would you see such a symphony of words and pictures. In other words, the illustrations very aptly and precisely depict the facts that Miranda is trying to convey. The text is written in the form of poetic verses. This way, both Miranda and Sija have successfully fused their respective twin passions of science and poetry, and science and art, respectively.
Towards the end of the book the author gives more information about the concepts that were earlier presented in the form of verses and factual bits. These include Kuiper Belt, Oort Cloud, Exoplanets, Black Hole and entities like supercluster and Nebula. The book closes with notes from the author and the illustrator, suggested material for further reading and bibliography.
This book is a wonderful composition of science, poetry and art. It would definitely ignite the creative and imaginative spark in your child. You may consider sitting with your kids holding this book, reading out loud and explaining the various terms and illustrations. Or if they are smart enough, they may explore on their own. This book has enough potential to attract and pull them into the wonderful world of astrophysics. Beyond will make a good birthday gift for your child.
March 14, 2021
What a gorgeous book! Author Miranda Paul takes us on a lyrical tour of the universe, using accessible (but fantastical) imagery. The Oort cloud, a "swarm of icy bodies--some as big as mountains, forms a cloudy border around our cosmic village." We visit "wind-whipped worlds with endless days and nights" and "[d]ark realms where gemstones fall from the sky." Space beyond our solar system is so hard to comprehend and picture, but Paul's words and Sija Hong's stunning art make me feel like I've gotten a glimpse of this magical, largely unknown realm.
The lyrical text on its own makes me feel like an explorer roaming and observing the universe in a visual way, even while not knowing exactly what is being described. The words and art make me feel like I've stepped into a book version of a Cirque du Soleil show: strange, mysterious, and mesmerizing. The backmatter gives more scientific grounding for the various places we've visited, and it also makes clear the enormous amount of meticulous research that has gone into this book.
This is a science book, but it's also a fantasy, an adventure story, and an invitation to young readers to ask big questions and become curious explorers of our universe.
Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The lyrical text on its own makes me feel like an explorer roaming and observing the universe in a visual way, even while not knowing exactly what is being described. The words and art make me feel like I've stepped into a book version of a Cirque du Soleil show: strange, mysterious, and mesmerizing. The backmatter gives more scientific grounding for the various places we've visited, and it also makes clear the enormous amount of meticulous research that has gone into this book.
This is a science book, but it's also a fantasy, an adventure story, and an invitation to young readers to ask big questions and become curious explorers of our universe.
Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2021
"Beyond: Discoveries from the Outer Reaches of Space" is different from many books about space. The factual information is solid, but it is different in that it combines science with art. The information is presented in the form of a poem and the paintings intentionally create an atmosphere of mystery and beauty.
This is the kind of nonfiction book that children’s librarians will love. It has useful curricular applications for students at different age levels. The youngest learners will enjoy the lyrical text and dreamlike paintings, while older students will enjoy the information bubbles on each page that describe other features of the universe and how far away they are. Beyond has the potential for cross-curricular applications, marrying science with art, poetry, and math.
Beyond also has a thorough appendix that contains educational and entertaining information. Miranda Paul’s verse is broken into its scientific components, there is an extensive bibliography, suggested sources of additional information, and a breakdown of the math involved in analyzing time and distance in space.
This unique volume is highly recommended and should be a part of any elementary school or public library.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is the kind of nonfiction book that children’s librarians will love. It has useful curricular applications for students at different age levels. The youngest learners will enjoy the lyrical text and dreamlike paintings, while older students will enjoy the information bubbles on each page that describe other features of the universe and how far away they are. Beyond has the potential for cross-curricular applications, marrying science with art, poetry, and math.
Beyond also has a thorough appendix that contains educational and entertaining information. Miranda Paul’s verse is broken into its scientific components, there is an extensive bibliography, suggested sources of additional information, and a breakdown of the math involved in analyzing time and distance in space.
This unique volume is highly recommended and should be a part of any elementary school or public library.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
January 19, 2021
We know about the nine planets of our solar system, but what is beyond? With spare, lyrical text and vibrant illustrations, author Miranda Paul and illustrator Sija Hong answer some questions about interstellar space and inspire young readers to wonder about many more. The book opens with a nine-page tour through our solar system. This introductory section ends with "We dream of discovering what lies...," leading readers to the title page that reads, "Beyond." The following pages explore exoplanets, black holes, superclusters, and more. Vivid, poetic language helps the reader connect the mysteries of space with familiar concepts. For example, "A strange energy looks like a ghost between the guests--..." Readers do not just learn about space; they experience it through poetry and image.
The book makes an excellent read-aloud that will spark curiosity among many young readers. Six pages of back matter, including additional information on the topics of the text, as well as resources for more information, make this a valuable addition to home, classroom, and community libraries.
The book makes an excellent read-aloud that will spark curiosity among many young readers. Six pages of back matter, including additional information on the topics of the text, as well as resources for more information, make this a valuable addition to home, classroom, and community libraries.
March 29, 2021
I was given early access to this non-fiction picture book written by Miranda Paul and beautifully illustrated by Sija Hong. I wasn't expecting what this book has to offer! It takes the reader on a journey through the solar system and beyond; it presents complex information to young children in an accesible matter and gives parents and teachers plenty of back matter to learn from (Yes, learn from, because, unless you're an expert on space, even adults will learn by reading this book!) and share with their young readers.
This isn't a book to read once. Children ages 5 or 6 won't experience this book the same way a bigger child will. After reading and rereading this book, I've concluded that children won't see this book the same way on their second or third reading. This is a book to come back once and again to discover something new with each reading.
Beyond is a beautiful book that kids who love space, science, art and imagining new worlds will treasure.
This isn't a book to read once. Children ages 5 or 6 won't experience this book the same way a bigger child will. After reading and rereading this book, I've concluded that children won't see this book the same way on their second or third reading. This is a book to come back once and again to discover something new with each reading.
Beyond is a beautiful book that kids who love space, science, art and imagining new worlds will treasure.
March 30, 2021
If you're a fan of the cosmos beyond what SpaceX and NASA provide, and
if you feel a sense of wonder when gazing up at the stars, and
if you want to take a journey through the universe on a light pulse of poetic text, with
light bubbles serving tasty tidbits of spatial relationships mixed with other factual nougat,
you'll want to follow this dessert up with the main course,
meaty back matter filled with many more details about the journey you've just taken.
And then you'll want to read it again, before heading to a planetarium or to the store for a telescope,
or better yet—to Space Camp!! (where the author, Miranda Paul, was bitten by the Carl Sagan bug)
My comments are based on a NetGalley digital copy offered in exchange for an honest review.
if you feel a sense of wonder when gazing up at the stars, and
if you want to take a journey through the universe on a light pulse of poetic text, with
light bubbles serving tasty tidbits of spatial relationships mixed with other factual nougat,
you'll want to follow this dessert up with the main course,
meaty back matter filled with many more details about the journey you've just taken.
And then you'll want to read it again, before heading to a planetarium or to the store for a telescope,
or better yet—to Space Camp!! (where the author, Miranda Paul, was bitten by the Carl Sagan bug)
My comments are based on a NetGalley digital copy offered in exchange for an honest review.
June 16, 2021
"Round exoplanets appear in the
scopes of our sensors:
Wind-whipped worlds with
endless days and nights.
Dark realms where gemstones
fall from the sky.
Earth-like planets with
twilight skies.
Giant spheres of scorching gas
speeding in their orbits.
Horizons with two setting suns.
Are these fantastical places real?
Yes, yes, yes.
But a thousand answers
spark a million new questions."
(about 14 pages in after Paul describes the universe up to this point)
This book takes us on a FASCINATING poetic journey of the "observable universe." If you're trying to help students understand more than just the planets in our universe, this is a great introduction to complex concepts like dying starts, a star birthplace and concepts/terms I'd never heard of like "local group" and "Virgo supercluster." In addition to the poetic text, there are captions with information about each location/thing (e.g., "Kepler-186f - an Earth-like planet with twilight skies - 500 light-years from Earth"). Students will not walk away with a complete understanding of these concepts but they will have a better understanding of how big and remarkable the "world" is and lots of questions that may launch them into research- both of which appear to be goals of Paul's and Hong's book.
As far as audience, it's a BIT STEEP for K-2. I'd read aloud to 3rd and up and then leave somewhere for students to grab and read again in small groups.
DON'T SKIP THE BACK MATTER. Your savvy space enthusiasts will enjoy rereading - alternating between the descriptions of concepts in the book and more detailed descriptions in the back matter and examining Sija Hong's artistic interpretations of the concepts. LOVE the "Our Cosmic Address" section which includes the address for planet earth in the "observable universe" on an envelope. (It's long!)
PAIR THIS TEXT WITH Jason Chin's "Your Place in the Universe" - another strong attempt at helping students see "beyond" our universe.
scopes of our sensors:
Wind-whipped worlds with
endless days and nights.
Dark realms where gemstones
fall from the sky.
Earth-like planets with
twilight skies.
Giant spheres of scorching gas
speeding in their orbits.
Horizons with two setting suns.
Are these fantastical places real?
Yes, yes, yes.
But a thousand answers
spark a million new questions."
(about 14 pages in after Paul describes the universe up to this point)
This book takes us on a FASCINATING poetic journey of the "observable universe." If you're trying to help students understand more than just the planets in our universe, this is a great introduction to complex concepts like dying starts, a star birthplace and concepts/terms I'd never heard of like "local group" and "Virgo supercluster." In addition to the poetic text, there are captions with information about each location/thing (e.g., "Kepler-186f - an Earth-like planet with twilight skies - 500 light-years from Earth"). Students will not walk away with a complete understanding of these concepts but they will have a better understanding of how big and remarkable the "world" is and lots of questions that may launch them into research- both of which appear to be goals of Paul's and Hong's book.
As far as audience, it's a BIT STEEP for K-2. I'd read aloud to 3rd and up and then leave somewhere for students to grab and read again in small groups.
DON'T SKIP THE BACK MATTER. Your savvy space enthusiasts will enjoy rereading - alternating between the descriptions of concepts in the book and more detailed descriptions in the back matter and examining Sija Hong's artistic interpretations of the concepts. LOVE the "Our Cosmic Address" section which includes the address for planet earth in the "observable universe" on an envelope. (It's long!)
PAIR THIS TEXT WITH Jason Chin's "Your Place in the Universe" - another strong attempt at helping students see "beyond" our universe.
December 23, 2020
Hmmm… A space book for the young that didn't really do it for me. Some pages, when so much effort went into the artwork, concentrated too much on the lettering – and with disjointed bits of text and disjointedly arranged captions didn't make for much coherence. We got the artistic impression of a nebula caused by a star collapse, but not the science – nothing with the brevity of the writing here could have told us what had happened and how. And then we reach the edge of the known universe, have a look at that – oh, and there's the science after all. I think any description of the writing on the pictorial pages as poetry (even poetic) is stretching it, and I am very confident the young me would not have felt it worked as verse either. So I then and I now would rather have had the science, which unfortunately rather negates a lot of the intent of this volume. Just as the visuals look to be wonderful watercolours, when they're due to Photoshop, so this looks like a unique space guide and ends up frustratingly intended to be something else first.
April 5, 2021
Beyond: Discoveries from the Outer Reaches of Space, written by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Sija Hong, is currently scheduled for release on April 6 2021. Journey far beyond our solar system and explore the marvels of interstellar space. A wonder-filled poem and spectacular illustrations bring readers across the observable universe to encounter dwarf planets, black holes, brand-new stars, and other incredible phenomena.
Beyond: Discoveries from the Outer Reaches of Space is lovely in text and artwork. The use of space as a muse for both poetry and artwork worked very well here- and I spent a good amount of time studying the images on each page. The poems flowed well and were perfectly paired with their corresponding artwork. I think the inclusion of science facts on each page made each page more impactfull. I also liked that the book included resources for further reading and a limited bibliography for readers the book inspires to study further on space in general or a specific subject mentioned in the book. I think this will appeal to many.
Beyond: Discoveries from the Outer Reaches of Space is lovely in text and artwork. The use of space as a muse for both poetry and artwork worked very well here- and I spent a good amount of time studying the images on each page. The poems flowed well and were perfectly paired with their corresponding artwork. I think the inclusion of science facts on each page made each page more impactfull. I also liked that the book included resources for further reading and a limited bibliography for readers the book inspires to study further on space in general or a specific subject mentioned in the book. I think this will appeal to many.
April 8, 2021
Beyond, from the opening line to the closing words, takes the reader on a poetic cosmic journey. The poetic verse beautifully explains the intricacies of the universe and snippets of scientific data gives the reader additional information. Illustrated with soft washes and burst of rich colors set in the darkness of space, the blend of color and poetry pulls the reader into a world of wonder and awe. Beyond, paired with any level (K-8) of science curriculum, will allow a deeper dive into the study interstellar space and delight students of all ages.
April 21, 2021
Just as the title promises, this book goes beyond the typical look at our solar system. It dives into black holes and exoplanets, the Orion Nebula and the Virgo Supercluster. By blending poetry and fun fact blurbs, the main text complements the information with inspiration. One of my favorite aspects is that the accessible main text is supported by content-dense backmatter, making it appropriate for the space neophyte or nerd.
June 24, 2021
I received a complimentary copy from Lerner Publishing Group.
Paul challenges readers to think beyond our own knowledge of space and learn more about what lies farther away from earth. Short text and information blurbs match with the lovely illustrations to bring these places to life. Further informative text is included at the end of the book. Mid to upper elementary level readers will appreciate the melding of the art and text.
Paul challenges readers to think beyond our own knowledge of space and learn more about what lies farther away from earth. Short text and information blurbs match with the lovely illustrations to bring these places to life. Further informative text is included at the end of the book. Mid to upper elementary level readers will appreciate the melding of the art and text.
May 23, 2022
This is a very nicely done book. Amazing illustrations and excellent descriptions of objects. The book takes you from Earth to the outer reaches of the universe. Great book for kids and/or anyone into astronomy. I've read many books and watched a lot of shows about the universe and I learned something new in this book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 12, 2021
If you love space, than this book is for you. It illustrates space and you feel like you are right there in the universe. It comes with poems that talk about the universe above. It feels like you are at a planetarium, but right wherever you are. I definitely recommend this for a child who has a fascination with space.
September 1, 2021
I love Miranda Paul's knowledgeable and interesting prose and have loved it for awhile. Sija Hong's illustrations are new to me but give a fantastic feeling of the vastness of space in this volume. What prevented me from reading the entire book was the typeface - yup, the typeface. I could not get past the close lettering and swirling font.
March 31, 2021
Lovely poetry and stunning illustrations make this book both engaging and informative.
July 10, 2021
Poetic language and beautiful illustrations given readers a glimpse of what lies beyond our solar system.
August 22, 2022
This book was donated to StagsRead by the author. This book will go directly into the hands of a student or in our community little free libraries.
January 26, 2024
Orientation of pages made reading difficult
March 28, 2021
Review to be added to Amazon UK and US on 6th April 2021 - publication day!
I thought that this book was excellent and I just loved the images and illustrations!
The book is well laid out, fun and informative and it is 5 stars from me for this one, I really enjoyed it and it will be a great read for any space fans, old and young!
Very highly recommended and the illustrations are just stunning!
I thought that this book was excellent and I just loved the images and illustrations!
The book is well laid out, fun and informative and it is 5 stars from me for this one, I really enjoyed it and it will be a great read for any space fans, old and young!
Very highly recommended and the illustrations are just stunning!
January 18, 2024
Not what I was expecting/hoping for, but the illustrations were pleasant.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews