If you don't know a black hole from a white dwarf, then this pocket-sized guide to the universe will bring you up to date. Even if you already know about the Local Arm and spectrohelioscopes, you'll find this book from Dorling Kindersley a useful resource. It provides short and succinct answers to those big questions about outer space: What is the universe? How is a star born? What are the Big Bang and Big Crunch theories? You can use the handy glossary and index to help you find all the answers under the sun to questions astronomical. The book is divided into sections on the universe, galaxies, stars, space viewed from Earth, the solar system, the planets, small objects in space (comets, meteors, and asteroids), studying space, and space history. Colorful diagrams, maps, photos, and charts provide additional information. An amazing number of space facts are packed into 160 small pages, on everything from the atmosphere around us to the signs of the zodiac. (Ages 11 to adult) --Marcie Bovetz