Product Description
In this first of a trilogy, the Universe tells its own life story of chaos and creativity, science and struggle. Time after time the Universe nearly perishes, then bravely triumphs and turns itself into new and even more spectacular forms. Eventually it turns stardust into you. This story begins in the very beginning, and ends with the formation of Earth. The second book From Lava to Life: The Universe Tells Our Earth Story tells of tiny new living things and ends with giant dinosaurs. In the third book, mammals rise and so do you (available spring 2005).

CUSTOMER REVIEWS (Average Customer Rating: 4.5 based on 18 reviews)

The story of you and me

I was a bit worried that my kids would not have the patience to sit through this book. It does use rather large words, but such is to be expected. I was glad that the three parts to this series were broken up to provide a break for young minds.

I was rather surprised, then, when my kids wanted me to read this book and then immediately go on to the second, and were disappointed because I had not yet ordered the third in the series (which I have just remedied). My 5 year old wanted me to read them both over again. We spent two solid hours on a Sunday evening reading these books together; eventually I was the one who told them that reading time was over.

The books tell the story of how the universe came to be, which is the same as how we came to be since we are part of the universe and the universe is not complete without us. The book may come across as "New Age" at times and at first I was not comfortable with the idea of a pre- Big Bang universe expressing dreams of what she may become. But it is used as a metaphor to show that the Universe could have turned out very differently than it did. These metaphors are quite appropriate for a children's book.

If you are looking for a book to help children with the abstract concepts of the formation of the universe, galaxies, matter, energy, stars, and the Earth itself, and if you also want that book to help children gain a sense of belonging to this great cosmic event and to think outside their own selves, then you can't do much better than "Born with a Bang."
September 02, 2008

A Magnificent Story for All Ages

Our family loves this series. We are not a religious family but we do find awe and wonder in the natural world. This book and its two sequels do a fantastic job of transforming complex events and advanced scientific terms into an understandable, inspiring account of evolution through the use of storytelling.

The pictures are stunningly beautiful (worth framing and displaying), but the text is what really grabbed our attention! Some reviewers have taken issues with how the narrative is written in first person, as if the universe has feelings and emotions. However, this does not distract from the factual science - in fact it brings the science to life and gives it an exciting voice.

Reading this story is much different than browsing through a dry, piece-meal science textbook -- and that's what makes this series so unique and accessible!

Metaphors are one type of storytelling used in these books. Typically metaphors are used to help people grasp complicated information by relating it to things they already understand. That is exactly how this series uses metaphors. The storytelling tools the authors have used in these books help kids (and adults) gain a deeper grasp of the sophisticated workings of our universe by explaining intricate processes in a fascinating, easy-to-understand way.

What might be treated as cold facts and mundane details in a normal book actually come alive through this type of story telling in the Born With A Bang series. It engages the reader - from young to old. Visiting friends have casually picked up these books just as something to flip through and ending up sitting down to read them cover to cover, absolutely captivated by the vivid pictures and incredible storytelling.

The first person account is a clever method that creates an interest in all the amazing cosmological, biological, and chemical events that have formed life as we know it. These same events often receive very dry treatment in other books -- as if they are distant, boring, and unrelated to our everyday lives and that has turned many people off from science. But this series does a great job at showcasing how exciting and vibrant science can be!

These books are especially great for families who find their spiritual and/or philosophical views missing in other story-like books that approach this subject with a creative twist. Too often those other books tend to be based on biblical stories or they contain creationist material that is misleading and inaccurate.

However, the Born With A Bang series is based on the current scientific understanding of the universe. Add the unique format of storytelling and these books make it possible to explore this material through a variety of perspectives, including Atheism, Humanism, and Paganism.

The content of these books show that the creation of the cosmos, the formation of earth, and the evolution of life are more than just scientifically interesting -- these things are part of an awe-inspiring account of our origins, of our life story.

As readers we are pulled into the books because they do a wonderful job of illustrating how we are truly part of all that has come before us.
July 04, 2008

Not good for K-2. Pictures awful- blobs of color and swirls.

Anti-particle, hydrogen globs, planetary pups.....I felt myself doing all the explaining, when I was hoping the book would do that for me. The pictures are just swirls of colors- never shows a final product "A picture of an Earth". Almost like something make-believe in my sons eyes. Jennifer Morgans "Lava to Larva" 2nd book summarizes this book in just a few pages. Dont care care for it much either- same goofy pictures, doesnt show evolution of man.
January 08, 2008

"Fruity" mixed with good science

I didn't realize what people meant by refering to this book as "New Age" - basically the "Universe" is narrating the story and "dreams" of people and trees and planets. The timeline and discription of big bang and star life cycles is great - but I am uncomfortable with the "wishes" and "dreams" and "feelings" of a universe.

I was looking for an age appropriate book to explain the formation of the universe to my 5 year old - and it has captured his imagination. As an atheist trying to build a good basis of science over superstition, I felt that the narration was over the top, when the science is way cool and didn't need the whole dream/wish/creator overtones.
March 16, 2007

Rave Rave Rave

I have raved about this book to everyone I know. Actually there are two in the series. As a parent, it feels good to give my child lessons on how we are all cosmically connected. These books are stunningly beautiful, rich with meaning, truth, science and laced with spirituality.
March 13, 2007

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