Ada and the Galaxies by Alan Lightman, Olga Pastuchiv, Susanna Chapman
Published by MIT Kids Press on September 7, 2021
ISBN: 9781536215618
Pages: 40
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads

Renowned MIT physicist Alan Lightman collaborates with with author Olga Pastuchiv in this fiction/nonfiction book. Ada, who has brown skin and curly hair, can’t see stars in New York City so  is delighted to arrive at her grandparents’ Maine island house. There is lots to like about this book: the depiction of Maine and coastal environment, photographs taken from the Hubble Space Telescope mixed in with beautiful watercolor illustrations, the bond between the child and her grandparents, Ama and Poobah, and the interconnectedness with humans and the universe. Ada is a bumptious child but not unrealistic. The story was inspired by the author’s granddaughter visiting him in Maine and the story comes across as a real event.  Olga Pstuchiv lives in Maine and it is unclear how she contributed to the book – the text or the illustrations. Probably best shared individually with a budding scientist.

Reviewed by Barb Rehmeyer, Liberty Library