I'm a Black Hole (Meet the Universe)

4.6 (2)

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Author(s)

Dr. Eve M. Vavagiakis

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Jessica Lanan

Publisher

MIT Kids Press

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

March 19, 2024

ISBN

978-1536222081

Buy This Book

Journey to the event horizon in this playful, mind-bending introduction to one of our universe’s most mysterious marvels—narrated by a black hole itself.

Lurking at the center of our galaxy and in the farthest reaches of space are black holes. Once unseeable and unknowable, these cosmic devourers—sometimes born from the death of stars—swallow even light itself. What exactly is a black hole? And how do we even know they exist? In a kid-friendly, rhyming narration, the elusive astronomical object introduces itself as both a behemoth star-eater and a shy, rarely-spotted phenomena. Physicist Eve M. Vavagiakis’s approachable text is paired with Jessica Lanan’s imaginative depictions of a young astronaut venturing where no human has gone before, along with stunning renderings of our fascinating narrator and the final frontier. Endnotes expand, spread by spread, on the fascinating science behind black holes and the cutting-edge experiments used to study them. This second entry in the Meet the Universe series will light readers’ curiosity and have them racing to discover more secrets hidden among the stars.

Editor reviews

2 reviews

Simple yet Informative

March 21, 2024

Overall rating

4.5

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

I’m a Black Hole does a nice job of simplifying the concept of what a black hole is into terms that someone new to the concept can understand. The illustrations emphasize the grandeur of this phenomenon and by putting a child as an astronaut it inspires the next generation to imagine themselves finding the answers we do not currently know. The lyrical style of the text helps keep the information simple yet informative. I like the additional information in the back matter that explains a bit more what was said in the book with websites to visit for further information on the topic. Overall, this was an informative text that is engaging and inspires the curious to investigate further.

Connie Reid, Site Manager Top 10 Reviewer 577 reviews

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inspiring and educational

March 15, 2024

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0

Characters

N/A

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

I'M A BLACK HOLE is a clever and engaging picture book that teaches children about black holes through rhyme. The book is told from the perspective of a black hole, giving information through a poem. Backmatter includes more detailed information about black holes for readers who want to learn more.

What I loved: This is such a great way to introduce black holes to young readers. The rhythmic and rhyming text is fun to read aloud and manages to provide a good deal of information. The backmatter supplements this with more details for readers who are curious to learn more. Even as an adult, I felt like there was a lot to learn about black holes and found it quite engaging.

Stunning, lush images are found on each page, related to the text. They really capture the imagination and add to the story quite a bit. Each page spread only includes a few lines of text, so the book can move very quickly. With the detailed illustrations, there is a lot to explore and enjoy throughout. Due to the length of the book, this could work well for preschoolers and up, with options to expand their learning through the backmatter and/or additional material. This would be a great pick in a classroom or group setting as well.

Final verdict: Educational and entertaining, I'M A BLACK HOLE is an informative and rhyming picture book that will inspire learning and curiosity in young readers.