Tens of millions of people live in places that experience(d) the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024 – and hundreds of millions more will see other future eclipses around the world. There' s no better way to get ready for an eclipse and to learn about the underlying science than through this book and the related free app "Totality by Big Kid Science." Written by the astrophysicist/educator who created that app, Totality! An Eclipse Guide in Rhyme and Science features a unique combination of rhyme and science that makes it suitable for a wide range of ages, as well as parents, teachers, and librarians. The rhyme begins "Today's the day, it's final come / I'll see a diamond on the Sun," thereby engaging readers of all ages in imagining an eclipse experience. In addition, the rhyme has been pedagogically constructed to serve as a mnemonic device for the underlying science that is explained in detail with illustration and "Big Kid Box" sidebars. The book concludes with a glossary, suggested activities, and an eclipse science summary — features that will add particular value for parents and teachers learning along with their students or kids. Totality! An Eclipse Guide in Rhyme and Science recently became the 7th book by author Jeffrey Bennett to be selected for the Story Time From Space program (storytimefromspace.com), in which books are launched to the International Space Station and read aloud by astronauts, with videos posted freely for anyone in the world to watch.
