There are trillions of stars in the universe, but one is particularly important to people on planet Earth—our sun. What’s the sun good for, anyway? Find out as the Universe explains just what makes the sun so important to planet Earth in The Sun: Shining Star of the Solar System. In this nonfiction picture book, children ages 5 to 8 learn how the sun creates the days, seasons, and years we experience on Earth and even affects our weather and water. Funny aliens provide a running commentary on Universe’s clear explanations of complex science topics and a hands-on activity provides an extra layer of learning. Plus, a poem at the beginning offers a language-based introduction to science details. A great choice as both a read-aloud and for early readers.