The James Webb Space Telescope, a “flying observatory” carrying infra-red-light-sensing cameras, has captured images of objects and processes never before observed by astronomers. These pictures allow them to view things that are distant in both space and time. Illustrated primarily with color images from the Webb and Hubble telescopes, the information is presented in relatively short sentences, which might suggest a younger audience, but the text assumes some familiarity with the basics of astronomy and physics. Still, challenging terms, such as protostar and diffraction, are either explained within the text or defined in the appended glossary. Birthplace looks at the origins of long-lived stars and notes how NASA’s two space telescopes (the Hubble and the James Webb) have helped scientists understand more about the origins of stars and nebulae. In discussing the impact of new information based on the Webb’s images, Deep Field offers a useful example of how widely accepted scientific theories, such as the Big Bang, are revisited and sometimes revised when new data becomes available. While the Webb’s mission is to send back images that will clarify the history of the universe, Heart deals with information collected specifically about galaxies. For astronomy enthusiasts, the Wonders of the Webb Telescope presents a good introduction to some of this telescope’s accomplishments.

Gr 4-7–The James Webb telescope was launched into space in 2021 and is the largest and most powerful telescope ever made. This telescope was developed to provide glimpses into what the universe looked like millions of years ago, as well as help give scientists insight as to how the universe works. Here is a series that explains what Webb has found in its travels and what it has shared with scientists on Earth over the last two years. There is some crossover of content, but each volume highlights one of the areas of space that the telescope has documented in photographs, including the Tarantula Nebula where many new stars are born and the Milky Way where our solar system is located. Photos captured by the telescope along with blocks of color make up engrossing spreads. The text is readable with concepts defined throughout and a glossary at the end. VERDICT This winning series will be of interest to all who wonder about what lies beyond the Earth’s atmosphere.