Journey Around The Sun: the Story of Halley's Comet by James Gladstone

Journey Around the Sun  tells the story of Halley's Comet from the point of view of the comet.The comet states that it has seen our past and will see our future. In the past, people looked at the comet in wonder, questioning what it was. Aristotle, a famous Greek philosopher, believed it was formed from super hot gases. In the city of Cairo in 898, the comet was called a planet with a tail and was seen for twenty-two days.

The comet notes that it has been given many names: a hairy star by the medieval English monk Eadwine in 1145, a bushy star by Chinese astronomers in 374, and a great sword of flame by the Flemish astronomer Gottfried Wendelin in 1607.

The comet, so often throughout history has been part of drawings and paintings.It notes that it has often been seen as a harbinger of misfortune but it says, "...I am only a comet, neither good nor bad -- a part of nature." 

No one knew that each sighting was of the same comet until Edmond Halley in 1758. Once this was known, people began to watch for the comet and it noted that in the twentieth century, scientists began to take photographs using telescopes. The Giotto probe came within 370 miles of the comet in 1986.

Now the comet is traveling far from the sun but it hopes that those reading this picture book will watch out for it in the future!

Discussion

Journey Around the Sun is a richly illustrated account of Halley's comet, a short period comet that is visible from Earth every seventy-five to seventy-six years. It was Edmond Halley's observations that led him to determine that previous sightings were of the same object. Halley was able to determine that comets seen in 1531, 1607 and 1682 were the same comet and he predicted the comet would return in 1758. Halley didn't live to see its return but it's reappearance was confirmed by Johann Pulitzch on Christmas night in 1758!

Gladstone has crafted an informative picture book that is written from a unique perspective, that of the comet. From this point of view, Gladstone is able to highlight the many changes the comet might have witnessed over many thousands of years, as it journeys past Earth every seventy-five years or so. The narrative also offers readers many interesting facts about Halley's Comet, including various attempts through the centuries to study it. Accompanying this informative text is the beautiful artwork of illustrator Yaara Eshet. Her colourful illustrations bring alive the comet and it's history in a very real way.

James Gladstone indicates in his A Note from the Author that he was able to view Halley's Comet when he was a teenager in 1986 but will only see it again if he lives to be very old. A unique presentation on an interesting natural feature of our amazing universe!

Book Details:

Journey Around The Sun: the Story of Halley's Comet by James Gladstone
Toronto: Owlkids Books    2021