Starstruck

September 10, 2018
Growing up in the Bronx, Neil deGrasse Tyson rarely saw more than a sprinkling of stars—until he visited the Hayden Planetarium in Manhattan. In this affectionate biography, married coauthors Krull and Brewer describe Tyson’s growing fascination with the cosmos as he takes a trip out of the city, where the stars are marvelously visible. He walked dogs to raise money for a telescope that neighbors sometimes mistook for a rifle: “When police officers stopped by, he would offer them the view from his telescope.” Krull and Brewer note milestones in Tyson’s career: earning his advanced degree in astrophysics, taking a job at the Hayden Planetarium, and appearing for the first time on television. Morrison works in a playful art style that expressively conveys Tyson’s personality and physical likeness (he appears dressed in his signature starry vests). This uplifting biography captures its subject’s relatability, natural curiosity, and infectious enthusiasm for science. Ages 4–8.