NONFICTION - ELEMENTARY

How It Works: The Universe

by Amy Chiu (text) & Kaley McKean (illus.)
Usborne. Dec. 2025. 16p. Board. $15.99. ISBN 9781836052609. Gr 3-6
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Usborne has made another appealing and educational lift-the-flap book, this time about the universe. Full-page spreads explore outer-space concepts, such as the Big Bang Theory and the life of a star, and children will enjoy lifting the flaps (some of them multilayered!) to discover further information about each topic. The book’s explanation of the shape of the universe is especially well done, introducing the concept of space-time and how it affects time and orbiting planets. Text is thoughtfully scattered across each page, often in speech bubbles voiced by human characters and quirky aliens alike. Curious readers will enjoy the simple experiments proposed throughout the book, which can be carried out with materials found around the home.
VERDICT Perfect for budding space explorers, this captivating title will pull readers in like the gravity from a black hole.
Reviewed by Melisa Bailey , Jan 16, 2026

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