Born With A Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story

Awards

Reviews

That the Universe can now tell its story through Jennifer’s voice and Dana’s art, is the culmination of centuries of scientific inquiry.

— Dr. Thomas Berry, cultural historian, author of Dream of the Earth

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Cosmology for kids! The universe itself tells its thirteen-billion-year story of chaos and the creation of life – from particles and atoms to all the stuff of deep space and planets. The story and pictures give a clear and dazzling understanding that all life is connected by a single, ever-giving source.

— “What the Bleep Do We Know?” website – www.whatthebleep.com
Recommended Books for Children (February 2005)

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Born With a Bang and From Lava to Life, books one and two of a three part series (the third will be available in 2005), artistically tell the story of the beginning of the universe, the creation of Earth, and the development of its diverse life forms. Morgan and Anderson incorporate Western science, art, and poetry with a tone of spiritual connectedness that emphasizes our place as humans within the creation process and the universal web of existence.

. . . Morgan and Anderson’s universe speaks to readers in a loving parental tone, making frequent references to the materials and processes contributing to human life. Themes of transformation replace life and death, contributing to the readers’ sense of belonging within the intricate universal fabric.

Morgan and Anderson blend various literary and artistic techniques to appeal to a universal audience. Rooted in western scientific tradition, the books use current scientific theories to explain complex cosmological, geographical, and biological processes. A glossary and reference section exists at the back of each book allowing the reader explore scientific principles in more detail. The informative scientific content is contrasted by Morgan’s simplistic literary style. Utilizing multi-color text, highlighting important terms in vibrant colors, and alternating between prose and verse, provide a visually stimulating, rhythmic story that can be enjoyed by young audiences who would be excluded by the scientific content alone. Anderson’s dreamlike images adorn each facing page in colorful coordination with Morgan’s key terms and ideas, presenting an interpretive visual component.

Born With a Bang and From Lava to Life provide educators with an unconventional tool for approaching science while honoring the imagination and creativity that fueled the quest to understand the heavens throughout human history.

— Taproot Magazine – Dodi Hathazi (Winter 2004)

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Children like stories; science can be a harder sell. But Jennifer Morgan of Princeton has combined “once upon a time” with subjects like the relationship of energy and matter, black holes in space and the formation of elements in Born With a Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story. Yes, it’s a first-person recounting by the universe (“Like you, I started as a tiny speck”) that ends with the formation of the Earth. Ms. Morgan had attended a workshop that combined cosmology with an “inner” point of view and noted the interest of her son, then 6, when she told him about it. She took two cosmology courses at Princeton, consulted with the professors and with local schoolchildren, found an illustrator – Dana Lynne Andersen – and published her book, for ages 7 to 12, a few weeks ago. The book $19.95 in hardback and $9.95 paperback, is available from its publisher, Dawn Publications, (800) 545-7475, dawnpub.com A second book, which continues the story through the extinction of dinosaurs, is due next year, and she plans a third.

— The New York Times (Up Front Section, p. 3, June 9, 2002)

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Seismic cultural change has often been initiated by individuals of vision and tenacity who were placed at the right place at the right time. Jennifer has spent a great deal of time perfecting some magnificent children’s books on the origins of the universe that are beautifully illustrated, brilliantly written and critically acclaimed by leaders as extremely relevant and enlightening alike.

Jennifer’s work as a storyteller, author, educator and environmental advocate flows out of her love of the natural world and cosmology. As former director of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey, she started local and national programs for farmers and consumers. In 1996, she took the Earth Literacy program in cosmology and evolution at Genesis Farm, Blairstown, NJ. It so inspired her that she went on to take classes in cosmology and evolution at Princeton University. In sharing what she learned with her six year old son, she discovered that children are intensely interested in the story of the universe. He wanted to know more and more, even the texture of the edge of the Universe. Jennifer consulted with numerous physicists, biologists and anthropologists regarding science concepts and, over time, bedtime conversations with her son turned into books. “Science is handing us an origin story,” she says, “and we’ve only barely begun to understand its mythic dimensions.” She believes that cosmology stories profoundly shape our relationships, work, play, culture, and institutions. Her first book won Learning Magazine’s Teachers Choice Award and both books received the highest review ratings from AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science).

Her Trilogy Born with a Bang, From Lava to Life and Mammals who Morph convey complex scientific information without diminishing the mystery and wonder and communicate the intrinsic part we as humanity play in the unfolding and evolving story of our universe.

The trilogy’s illustrator Dana Lynn Andersen of Santa Rosa, California, is a multimedia artist, playwright and teacher with degrees in philosophy and consciousness studies. Her paintings, often very large in size, explore the swirling forces of energy that underlie matter and seek to reveal life’s numinous mystery. She believes that as our “depth perception” expands – billions of galaxies discovered in our lifetime! – it is also essential to expand perception inwardly to the vastness within. She is founder of Awakening Arts, a network of artists who affirm the noble purpose of art as a vehicle for uplifting the human spirit. Dana provides programs and hands-on projects that have students creating like the Universe.

This trilogy should be in every school across our nation as well as library for they truly open a new chapter in educational history where the magic and mystery of our universe is combined with hard science to create a tale that brings the open minds of children into a greater understanding of who they are and how we all are part of the universe and its grand story.

— The Omni Art Salon – Conversations in Consciousness – Jeffrey Milburn (April 2008)

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Did you know that cat-sized horses with padded feet in place of hooves once roamed Earth, or that the oceans formed as a result of a period of rainfall that spanned millions of years? I didn’t, which is one reason I eagerly read through the Universe series by Jennifer Morgan, with illustrations by Dana Lynne Andersen, more than once.

This series is comprised of three books: Born With a Bang, From Lava to Life, and Mammals Who Morph. Each book focuses on a different period in the history of the universe, covering enormous periods of time and gargantuan swaths of history in three compact books. The books manage both to present huge quantities of information and to keep it interesting.

For example, in book two, From Lava to Life, my personal favorite of the three, we learn about how life struggled to thrive on the new planet Earth. I read about the major periods of extinction from throughout the history of our planet. I had always known about the dinosaur extinction, but I learned that there have been numerous other extinctions, including the Oxygen Crisis, when hydrogen-hungry bacteria snacked their way to disaster by eating all the H from H2O and leaving the O in an oxygen-pollution pileup. As it turns out, oxygen is poisonous to bacteria, and so the bacteria were dying off. Ultimately, eukaryotes and mitochondria teamed up to survive this mass extinction – and we still rely on mitochondria to this day! I learned that different versions of this story have happened over and over again: battles amongst and cooperation between different creatures have shaped our planet, and continue to do so.

Which brings me to another thing I appreciate about this series: It reaffirms humans’ interconnectedness with all life, as well as with the very matter from which the planet is composed. Discussing the planet’s infanthood, Morgan says, speaking directly to the reader, “. . . you were there – as particles of stardust, churning inside Earths oceans of liquid rock.” When she details the creation of the particles that would become the basis of all matter, she says, “Everything, including your body, is made out of those same particles that I made long, long ago.” Fostering this senses of interconnectivity could contribute to young people feeling a sense of responsibility toward our planet that is born of kinship an connection, rather than obligation.

While some of the concepts and words in these books might not be for the youngest of readers, a glossary in each book should help with any vocabulary-related snafus. Important or tricky concepts are keyed to “science concepts” pages at the back of each book, where the author elaborates on the topics. Another clever addition to the books is the inclusion of timelines. Each book has its own, which acts as a continuous header across the pages. I found the timelines to be helpful in keeping all of the new information straight as I time-traveled my way through the books. One caveat: Parents should be aware that a couple of the stories might frighten young children, such as a page describing a band of apes fatally attacking a stranger ape in their territory.

In her author bio, Morgan explains that this series was born of bedtime storytelling sessions with her son, who hungered for more and more information about the universe. These storytelling roots come through in the stories, which have an engaging, conversational tone that children will enjoy. And Andersen’s illustrations are a lush and vibrant addition to the books, each picture telling its own story. Children will no doubt enjoy spending time with these illustrations, pulling out details that capture their imagination and weaving stories of their own.

At the end of the day, it seems fitting that the Universe series grew from bedtime stories – what better time to open children’s eyes to the infinite possibilities of life and the world they live in than before sending them off to dream?

— Montessori Life – Brenda Modliszewski (Issue 3, 2007)

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Born With A Bang tells the story of the creation of the universe with bouncy language and magical, stunning conceptual art. More good news: This book by storyteller Jennifer Morgan will be followed by two more volumes, forming a trilogy that recounts the birth of all living things. Illustrator Dana Lynne Andersen has created dazzling images of primeval planetary forces, the conversion of energy into matter, black holes, and more. For assistance in reviewing this 9.75-by-11.5 inch title, I took it to the home of a friend, an amateur astronomer with three telescopes, and his 4-year-old daughter, who regularly peers into her dad’s equipment. She listened patiently to the words about creation out of the great void, which was likened to a gigantic Lego project. She loved the story, which is told from the universe’s perspective, and wanted to look at the pictures as we read to her. On the next occasion, we were instructed to view the pictures as she read what she was able to. With its entrancing illustrations, this book is nearly edible; indeed, the 4-year-old suggested copying an illustration or two on her father’s laser color printer and eating it. So you can count on the fantastic artwork helping to sell the book! With several Hubble space telescope-generated photographs on the book’s high-gloss paper and appendixes of scientific facts, resources for additional learning — for both children and adults — and a glossary, Born With a Bang need not be confined to your children’s section. With its eye-grabbing cover, the book is perfect for display. This creative, awe-inspiring title also is available in a hardcover addition.

— New Age Retailer – Thomas Peter von Bahr (July/August 2002)

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Born With a Bang hooks you from the very first page. In this text, the universe tells us her story in a first-person narrative that unfolds with vivid illustrations. Students and adults alike will be totally immersed in this delightful book. Much detail has been placed into the print text, the wonderful illustrations, and the resource materials listed in the back.

Many of the details presented will enhance the reader’s knowledge of the big bang theory. Scientific concepts are noted at the bottom of each page, referring the reader to other resources listed in the book. These concepts are then discussed in greater detail through photographs in the resource section of the book. Another great feature is the timeline of the universe’s development that appears at the top of each page. The timeline keeps the perspective of the universe’s growth readily available to the reader.

This volume is the first book in a series and truly leaves the reader wanting to know more. The illustrations are extraordinary. Scientifically correct illustrations are enhanced with actual photographs where appropriate. The glossary and list of various types of resources will greatly add to the reader’s awareness of our universe. After reading this book, I wanted to know more about our universe; students will be thrilled by it as well and are sure to develop a similar thirst for more information. This book is highly recommended for readers of ages 8 to 80 and beyond!

— Science Books & Films – Susan Y. Nichols(January/February 2003)

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The Universe tells its own story of how it came to be, teaching science while creating a sense of wonder about how it all began. Beginning with a tiny speck, the Universe grows and changes as the eons pass, until finally, the world as we know it materializes. Gorgeous illustrations accompany each step of the journey from tiny speck to the vastness of space, adding a visual feast to the tale. The last part of the book offers a more detailed and scientific explanation of the creation of the Universe. Also included is a glossary to explain technical terms, and an extensive list of resources for both children and adults wishing to study astronomy further.

— Children’s Literature – Joanne Draper (2003)

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Perfect for students in grades 2-6, Jennifer Morgan’s paperback trilogy focuses on the creation of the Universe, Earth, and humankind. In Born With a Bang, the Universe talks of her own creation and change of form. The book From Lava to Life discusses planet Earth and its inhabitants up to the dinosaur period, and Mammals Who Morph captures the evolution of mammals, ending with human beings. Dana Lynne Andersen’s illustrations in these publications are very colorful, creative and appropriate to the storyline. Narrated by Madame Universe, the series discusses evolution from a surreal, fairytale perspective. The author provides an account of major evolutionary happenings in an easy to understand chronological report. Release the regimented views of yesterday’s scientists and take hold of the expressionistic rendition of tomorrow’s storytellers: our children. This series is best suited for storytime or for addressing sensitive creation and evolution issues.

— Green Teacher (Summer 2010)

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Author Jennifer Morgan lets the conscious universe tell its own life story in this book that will delight children and adults alike. Narrated from the first-person perspective of the cosmos, this adventurous tale chronicles the universe’s evolution from the Big Bang to the formation of the Earth. The power, beauty, and vastness of the universe is colorfully illustrated by artist Dana Lynne Andersen in this book that brings the complex sciences of Western cosmology “down to Earth,” so that everyone can experience the endless play of life’s creativity and chaos. The conscious universe will never look the same when you finish this book.

— IONS Noetic Sciences Review(March/May 2003)

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Jennifer Morgan, former director of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey, and Dana Andersen, a multi-media artist, playwright, and teacher, have created a trilogy of children’s books that recount the amazing story of our universe since its inchoate beginnings. Born With a Bang is the first in the trilogy: The universe narrates its own life story from its creation to the Earth’s. The narrative format for this story is not new; Brian Swimme and Thomas Berry did something similar in The Universe Story (Harper Collins, 1994). Nevertheless, Born With a Bang will captivate both young readers and their parents with its wonderful narrative beautiful illustrations.

— Science & Spirit (Oct/Nov 2002)
“The Good Books: A dozen of the year’s most intriguing science-religion books tantalize mind and soul” by Greg Maslowe

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When returning from the Moon, I experienced directly and emotionally the personal connection to the Universe described by Jennifer Morgan. We are the way the Universe knows itself. We are it and it is us. All together we are wonderful and amazing.

— Edgar Mitchell, Sc D., Apollo 14 astronaut

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In the magic of this story . . . suddenly, we have the feeling that we BELONG.

— Dr. Brian Swimme, mathematical cosmologist, author of The Universe Story

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Born With a Bang is an excellent depiction of the Big Bang Hypothesis with incredible pictures and humanized text which brings this complex subject down to a personal level. As a teacher and an independent bookstore owner, I have had teenaged students who have trouble visualizing this universe birthing process. This book makes it so much easier to understand, especially for the middle grade audience. We give it five hearts.

— BookSense – Recommendations for Children’s Science Books – Bob Spear (March 2002)

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In this charming book, the Universe is your home, your host, and your storyteller. If it could talk, it would say exactly what Jennifer has scripted for it.

— Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, director, Hayden Planetarium, American Museum of Natural History

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You know that feeling you get sometimes when you’ve been thinking about a problem, or puzzling over how to teach some concept, or some friend crosses your thoughts, and the next day that person telephones, or a colleague hands you an activity that matches that concept perfectly, or the answer to the problem pops into your head when you wake up that morning? I think it’s called “synchronicity.”

A few months ago, the Dome-L list server spun a thread about teaching evolution (or not, depending on your audience). And the next day, this book appeared in my mailbox. The accompanying press release says it best, “Storytelling science: ‘Once upon a time’ meets evolution.” This gloriously illustrated, beautifully written book is a loving letter from the Universe to her Earthlings.

It traces the Universe’s development from Big Bang, through particles and anti-particles, atoms, stars and supernovas, formation of heavier elements, and the beginnings of our solar system, ending with a young Earth. Born With A Bang is the first in a trilogy. The next two volumes will trace the evolution of life from “tiny new living things” to dinosaurs, and then the rise of mammals, according to the press release.

The target audience for this book is listed as eight through twelve year-olds. The actual age range is far wider. Each adult to whom I’ve shown the book has wanted to keep it; each child to whom I’ve read the book wants to hear it over again.

This is a large-format paperback book. Each page of text features large type font (the better to read with aging eyes). Most pages have a time-line printed at the top, and reference to science concepts at the back of the book printed at the bottom. Facing each text page is a colorful painting full of details to discover. During my first read-through, I was torn between turning pages to gobble up the story and lingering over lavish illustrations.

A summary of information, two pages of discoveries by Earthling scientists, a glossary and a page of resources round out this excellent introduction to cosmology. Born With A Bang received the Teachers Choice award, and the back cover is full of testimonials from prominent scientists.

Cultural historian Thomas Berry offers a suggestion at the end of the book. “We need to hear the story from our cradle days through all stages of our lives, for we refer to the Universe for our origin and ultimate destiny. It’s time to reshape our thinking inside of this context. Indeed, our future depends upon it.”

This is one book you’ll want in your gift shop, your personal library, and your teacher resource center. You’ll probably need several copies – mine has already wandered away.

— Planetarian: The Journal of International Planetarium Society (June 2003)

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The late astronomer Carl Sagan once remarked that few of us spend much time wondering why the universe is the way it is. Indeed, most of us possess nothing more than the sketchiest knowledge of the origins of the cosmos. And let’s face it; it’s an intimidating subject, especially when you realize that even the world’s most brilliant astrophysicists can offer only theoretical answers to many of the Big Questions. Children, on the other hand, will ask the Big Questions. As Sagan observed, they don’t know enough not to.

When your children boldly ask what no adult has asked before, you will now have an excellent resource at your disposal, the terrifically-titled “Born With a Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story.” Its author, Princeton resident Jennifer Morgan, was inspired to write the book after her own young son requested bedtime stories that dealt with such subjects. Born With a Bang may be the world’s first epistolary guide to astronomy. It is a letter from the universe to earthlings, to very young earthlings.

Morgan, remembering that all children love to hear their own birth stories, compares the beginning of the universe to an embryo’s development in its mother’s womb. She creates a sentient universe, endowing it with an awareness of its own existence, an imagination and the urge to grow. Then she concisely and clearly describes the process by which this tiny speck burst into a “grapefruit-sized fireball,” and “like a gargantuan balloon . . . blew up to the size of a galaxy.”

Morgan manages to introduce the concepts of energy, particles, atoms, mother stars and supernovas, the birth of the sun and the planets, in a way that is both comprehensive and comprehensible. (There is no mention of God in the book.) The fantastic facts and figures (“hotter than one trillion degrees,” “13 billion years ago”) will awe young readers, and the timeline Morgan runs across the top of every page will help them to understand how new we earthlings are to the universe, given how long the whole process took. Actually, is taking. While the book closes with the formation of our solar system, Morgan writes, “Of course, dear Earthling, my story – OUR story – doesn’t end here. . . . So much still had to happen before I could turn myself into you.” She expects this to be the first in a series of books about the universe.

Artist Dan Lynne Andersen illustrates the text with psychedelic kaleidoscopes of bright colors, an appropriate choice that somehow underscores the stunning vastness of the universe and the dynamic nature of the processes that brought it into being. Morgan’s prose is friendly, exuberant and long on the exclamation points engendered by her enthusiasm. She reminds us that scientists have many questions that remain unanswered, and hers is a welcome departure from the too many science books that purport to explain it all, once and for all. It’s a good introduction to the scientific process, including its limitations and paradoxes.

Born With a Bang succeeds at conveying complex scientific information without diminishing the mystery and wonder. And its fun.

— The Trenton Times – Liz Chang (September 29, 2002)

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This lovely story reminds us that science is a deeply human endeavor.

— Prof. Gillian Knapp, Astrophysics Dept., Princeton University

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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.

— Amazon.com (Customer Review) (July 4, 2008)

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Our Universe is the great Being expressing itself in many forms. Some call this Being God; others call it something else. Whatever the name, this story shows that the Universe is profoundly alive.

— Swami Agnivesh, Hindu leader and former Minister of Education, Haryana Province, India

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This spellbinding book traces our way back to the origin and mystery of the Universe and the awesome purpose of our existence.

— Sr. Miriam MacGillis, founder, Genesis Farm

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Science has developed a clear understanding of the evolution of the Universe from the Big Bang to today. It is a dramatic story, one which Jennifer Morgan tells in a delightful, accessible, but technically accurate way to a young audience.

— Dr. Michael Strauss, Professor of Astrophysics, Princeton University

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Jennifer’s creative telling of The Great Story is a gift to the world. Truly! I laughed out loud and wept for joy as I read it. And to hear her tell it live. . . what a wonderful and inspiring experience that is! The truth is that I cannot speak too glowingly or recommend too highly this amazing little book. I wish every child and every adult in the world could hear their larger story told this way. God bless you, Jennifer!

Michael Dowd, community organizer, author of EarthSpirit: A Handbook for Nurturing an Ecological Christianity, and the forthcoming, with Connie Barlow, Dancing in the Dragon’s Jaws: The Transforming Power of The Great Story

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. Ages 7 to adult.

— Arizona Networking News (May 2002)

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. . . Aimed at children 8 and up (but already requested by a college teacher to use in his class), she’s included end pages containing more detailed scientific facts and concepts, with scientific photos illustrating them.

With this added information, the book can take kids who wish to pursue further understanding of the book’s simplified concepts.

She also includes a “Timeline of Triumphs” in the life of the universe. It funs from “Bang (less than 1 second old”, to “eight and a half billion years old,” the period when conditions are right for planet Earth to welcome life.

There is a glossary of scientific terms, and a charming list of “things the universe learned along his journey.” Perhaps the biggest thrill for Morgan so far, she says, is the endorsements she has received, including a glowing recommendation from her revered mentor at Genesis Farm, Thomas Berry, and similar commendations from the director of the Hayden Planetarium and from astronaut Edgar Mitchell.

Morgan hopes one outcome of her trilogy will be that readers will realize, “what we do to the world, to the land, and to ourselves is what we do to the whole universe. I want people to see that the entire universe is a living web, and we as human beings play a very important part in its story. . . .”

— The Trenton Times – Living Section (May 5, 2002)
(Excerpt from article, “One With the Universe” by Sharon Schlegel)

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For lovers of American modern dance, photographer Barbara Morgan is almost as beloved as the artists she captured on film – dancers like Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey,and Eleanor King. Her photos helped the American public understand the new art form. Now her granddaughter, Jennifer Morgan, has published a book of another sort altogether, Born with a Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story. This dramatically illustrated cosmology for young people tells the 13-billion-year story of the universe in language that children – and adults ? can understand. . .

— U.S.1, – Preview Section(May 1, 2002)
(Excerpt from article, “An Ambitious Universe Tells Its Own Story”)

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This imaginative autobiography of the Universe teaches science while illuminating the transcendent wonders of nature for people of all ages. This spellbinding book traces our way back to the origin and mystery of the Universe and the awesome purpose of our existence.

— Growing Communities For Peace (December 2003)
www.humanrightsandpeacestore.org

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From Dawn Publications, Born With a Bang describes in words and pictures the origins and evolution of the universe. Based on the most recent scientific theories in astrophysics and evolutionary biology, Born With a Bang describes the battle between particles and anti-particles, the formation of hydrogen atoms, all leading to the present state of the universe.

The illustrations are extremely colorful and fantastic, making the book a visual marvel as well as informative and evocative.

— Clearing Magazine (Winter 2002)

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Comments from students in Patricia Anne Gordon’s Literary Themes: Community class at John Abbott College in Montreal, Quebec:

“When I read this, I almost get the feeling that I am sitting on the couch next to the universe, and we are looking through her photo album.”

“Born With a Bang is definitely not money spent for nothing. With its great drawings and with the Universe speaking in the first person, it really is a marvelous book. I will keep it in a safe place, and if I have children, I will make them read this book as soon as they can read.”

“In conclusion, I really liked reading the children’s book. It was a fantastic way to describe to all people how the universe is created. It was easy to follow and kept you excited and entertained while still keeping the scientific points the main plot. It was more interesting than any story I read during school about space. The pictures were wonderful and helped bond the ideas from the story into your head. I also liked the timeline at the top of each page that helped tell you where in time everything was going on.”