Stargazing
Out of this world Series
on Goodreads (3)
What’s inside...
Stargazing is a deeply personal and relatable story by Jen Wang about two Chinese-American girls, Christine and Moon, who form an unlikely friendship when Moon's family moves next door. As they grow closer, sharing secrets and dreams, a catastrophe strikes that tests their friendship. Meanwhile, 'Stargazing' also explores the science of the night sky, teaching kids about famous astronomers, meteorites, and constellations in an engaging and educational way. Stargazing explores the science of what we see in the night sky. Kids will learn about Earth's most famous astronomers, find out the difference between a meteor and a meteorite, explore the constellations in the night sky and more. Engaging photos, exciting graphics, and a fun quiz at the end of each book will keep them learning. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Super Sandcastle is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
7-12
Length
24 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think about the friendship between the characters? How do they support each other?
If you could explore the stars like the characters, what would you hope to discover?
How do the characters handle challenges or disagreements? What can we learn from that?
What was your favorite part of the story, and why did it stand out to you?
How do you think the story would change if it was set in a different place or time?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to express their thoughts and feelings about the story, validating their opinions and showing genuine interest.
Relate the themes or situations in the book to your child’s own experiences to make the discussion more relatable and meaningful.
Ask follow-up questions based on your child’s responses to deepen the conversation and encourage critical thinking.
Use the discussion as an opportunity to teach valuable life lessons, such as the importance of friendship, curiosity, and resilience.
Create a comfortable and distraction-free environment to make the reading and discussion time enjoyable and engaging.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: In 'Stargazing', characters learn to understand and accept each other's differences, which helps them build stronger friendships.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this by learning to appreciate the unique traits of their classmates and friends, promoting inclusivity and respect in their social interactions.
Example Lesson: Importance of Teamwork
Explanation: The story demonstrates how characters achieve their goals by working together and combining their strengths.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to participate in group activities and understand the value of cooperation in achieving common objectives, whether in school projects or team sports.
Example Lesson: Curiosity and Learning
Explanation: Characters in the book show a keen interest in learning more about the stars and the universe, which fuels their adventures.
Real-World Application: Children are motivated to explore and ask questions about the world around them, enhancing their knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Example Lesson: Resilience in the Face of Challenges
Explanation: The characters encounter obstacles during their adventures but learn to overcome them through perseverance and creative thinking.
Real-World Application: This teaches children to not give up easily when faced with difficulties, fostering a resilient mindset that is crucial for personal growth.
Example Lesson: Joy of Discovery
Explanation: As the characters explore celestial phenomena, their excitement and joy are palpable, highlighting the wonders of discovery.
Real-World Application: Children learn to find joy in learning new things and are encouraged to explore subjects that fascinate them, whether in science, arts, or any other field.