Common Sense Media Review
By Susan Faust
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Wonders on Earth and beyond in exquisite space-bound poem.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 4+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
Bodies in the celestial sky and life on Earth are joined in a poetic homage to wonder and awe in IN PRAISE OF MYSTERY. A child on the cover, held up by a floating book filled with knowledge, sets us on a picture book exploration of "the night sky inky with black expansiveness," "the planets we know," and where we "pin quick wishes on stars." Although from Earth, "we read the sky," we learn that there are also mysteries below, and, thus, focus turns to the whale song, a songbird singing, a wind-shaken tree, and us, "creatures of constant awe, curious at beauty." The poem concludes that we humans deal with "grief and pleasure, sun and shadow," not united by darkness but by life-giving water, love, and "a need to call out through the dark." There's an author's note at the end.
Is It Any Good?
The 2023 Poet Laureate of the United States has penned a hauntingly evocative poem about our place in space, presented here in her debut picture book. While a scientific study of space necessarily focuses on facts, a human dimension is explored in In Praise of Mystery. What matters to Ada Limón is our curiosity about the unknown, our sense of wonder and awe. In fluid blues of sky and water, the imaginative art calls to mind Van Gogh's Starry Night, a tree of life, a book of knowledge, and the man in the moon. Together words and images come together to fathom the depths of our boundless need to ask and answer questions and our innate longing to understand the universe and ourselves.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about In Praise of Mystery and think about the wonders of the universe. When you look at the night sky, what do you see? What questions do you have?
What makes you curious? How do you feel when you make a new discovery? Does it take courage to make a new discovery? Is it hard to ask questions and find answers?
In this book, a poet uses words to communicate feelings of awe and wonder. Do you have similar feelings when you look at the night sky or any other time? How do you communicate those feelings?
The illustrator has enhanced the real world with his imagination—for example, putting a face on the moon. What do you think about his vision? Do you like to mix reality and imagination in your art?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Peter Sis
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : STEM
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Curiosity
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Norton Young Readers
- Publication date : October 1, 2024
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 4 - 8
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate