'astronomy'

Hello again, and welcome to this edition of Campbell Unclassified! 

It’s a brand new year, full of new horizons to explore, new challenges to overcome, new books to read! Have you made a reading goal for yourself this year? Maybe you want to try revisiting all your old favorites. Or head off on wild adventures with some epic fantasy. You could try some new skills with some how to books and our Library of Things. Read every James Patterson novel? Check out our new travel guides and plan your dream vacation? Try one of those “100 books to read before you die” challenges? 

Whatever your fancy, one of the first decisions many people make is whether or not they are going to read fiction or nonfiction. Me? I say, “why not both?!”

With that in mind, I would like to share some great book pairings with you; books that go together like Doc and Marty, peanut butter and jelly, Kirk and Spock, like wine and cheese!

Fans of Bridgerton Unite!

Whether you first met Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton family on Netflix or in the novels, you may be interested in The Time Traveler’s Guide to Regency Britain: a handbook for visitors to 1789-1830 (for other novels set in Regency Britain, try authors Mary Balogh or Georgette Heyer).

American Tragedy

I highly recommend The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead. Then check out The White House Boys by Roger Dean Kiser--on which it was based--and We Carry Their Bones: the search for justice at the Dozier School for Boys, a new book detailing the recent forensic work done on the ground of the old reformatory school.

Journey to the Red Planet

There is a lot of great science fiction out there about space travel. For adventures on our planetary neighbor, try The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury or The Martian by Andy Weir. Then pick up Packing for Mars (comes in a children’s edition, too!) or Dinner on Mars if you’d like to know about the science behind making a visit to Mars possible.

Digging Up Dinosaurs!

Who DOESN’T love dinosaurs?! We have so many books about dinosaurs, you’re sure to find something you like, but have you read about Mary Anning? Check out Tracy Chevalier’s Remarkable Creatures for a tale of female friendship and fossils, and The Fossil Hunter: dinosaurs, evolution and the woman whose discoveries changed the world by Shelley Emling. Share her story with the kids with these children’s books: Mary Anning’s Curiosity, Dragon Bones, or Fossil Hunter!

Crime on the American Frontier

The infamous Bloody Benders are thought to be responsible for the gruesome murders of over a dozen men and one infant in Kansas between 1872 and 1873. The excellently researched Hell’s Half-Acre by Susan Jonusas is thoroughly engrossing. I can’t wait to check out the novel All the Blood We Share by Camilla Bruce!

You can check out more fiction/nonfiction pairings online!

Happy reading!

My parents were the first ones to introduce me to the wonder of the night sky---showing me how to identify the Big Dipper, pointing out the Northern Lights on late night drives, and even waking me up in the middle of the night to watch a meteor shower. I can still picture me and my siblings huddled in our blankets with our parents eating Oreos at the end of our driveway, competing to see who could count the most “shooting stars.” One night, we were lucky enough to catch a fireball light up the sky! These cherished childhood memories, and more I’ve made along the way, continue to fuel my desire to venture out into the night to see what’s on display in the heavens.

And according to amsmeteors.org we might be in for a treat July 17 - August 26, 2021. Known for its high volume of meteors with clear persistent trains, the Perseids are one of the most popular showers in the Northern Hemisphere. This year, it will peak on August 11-12 when the moon is only 13% full and will set in the early evening, providing dark skies for this year’s Perseids. In cloudless rural locations, it may be possible to see 50-100 shower members per hour! Many of the meteors will radiate from a point in the constellation Perseus, but you’ll be able to see them in any part sky after 9:00pm. They tend to strengthen in numbers into midnight, with the most meteors just before dawn. 

So go enjoy a beautiful night under the stars--find yourself some dark sky, bring the snacks, and keep your fingers crossed for a fireball!

Want to dive a little deeper into backyard astronomy? Check out these titles from our library!

Constellations

A glow-in-the dark guide to the night sky
by Chris Sasaki

Easy 523.8 SASAKI // Bring your flashlight to storytime and explore the stars with this glow-in-the-dark picture book! Featuring the stories behind some of the most famous constellations, this child-friendly introduction to the night sky is a perfect mix of simple science and storytelling.

The Young Astronomer

A young enthusiast's guide to astronomy
by Harry Ford

520 FOR // Award-winning astronomer Harry Ford, brings a hands-on approach to astronomy to budding stargazers ages 10 and up. Filled with experiments and projects that help explain how a lunar eclipse happens, how to spot a planet, and how to make your own stargazing equipment.

Eyewitness Handbooks: Stars and Planets

A visual guide to the night sky
by Ian Ridpath

520 RID // New to the night sky? This practical field guide features clear, easy-to-use star charts and is a great introduction to constellations, the solar system, and celestial objects for middle-grade and high school readers.

Discovery Channel: Night sky

An Explore Your World Handbook
by Mary Kalamaras

520 KALAMARAS // Designed for astronomy enthusiasts new and seasoned alike, this authoritative field guide combines fascinating information on the fundamentals of the universe with practical advice for identification and observation techniques, full color star maps, and an alphabetical guide to all 88 constellations.

The Backyard Astronomer's Guide

Third Edition
by Terence Dickison and Alan Dyer

522 DICKINSON // Looking for a more technical approach to stargazing? This in-depth manual gets the amateur astronomer started identifying celestial objects, using telescopes, and photographing the night sky.