Galileo's Universe

From Booklist Gr. 3-5. Nonfiction pop-up books are unusual, but a biographical pop-up poetry book is a rarity. Lewis highlights experiences and events in Galileo's life in rhymed verse that offers some fine, memorable imagery as well as some more prosaic lines, perhaps resulting from the necessity of packing facts into the poetry. This handsome and relatively sturdy volume opens with a prose discussion of Galileo's universe, but each of the eight double-page spreads that follows offers verse illustrated with pictures that include one or more pop-up, fold-out, and pull-tab features. Open one page and the Leaning Tower of Pisa pops up. Pull a tab and watch two balls descend to the ground or, at least, most of the way down. The paper engineering is often clever, and Curry's excellent paintings give a sense of the era as well as dramatically portray people and events. The book will make a good addition to classroom units on Galileo, but some background knowledge of the man and his work will be needed for children to make the most of it. Carolyn Phelan Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved