Starry Messenger

Title: Starry Messenger
1997 Caldecott Honor Book
Author/Illustrator: Peter Sis
Published: 1996
Summary: After putting forth evidence that the earth was not the center of the universe, Italian Galileo Galilei faced persecution from the Catholic Church, but his ideas still live on.
Memorable Quote: "Finally, more than three hundred years later, the leaders of the very Church that had punished Galileo Galilei pardoned him, and they admitted that he was probably --in fact, surely and absolutely--right."
Artistic Example: The complexity of Galileo's life is implied in the illustrations that are woven together like an intricate tapestry.
Teaching Idea: Compare the biographies of Snowflake Bentley and Starry Messenger. Talk about how the use of scientific inventions, microscope and telescope, helped make their discoveries possible.
Grade level: 1 - 5
Reading level:830