The Fire of Stars

Book cover with the title The Fire of Stars in copper foiled text that features a painting of a young Cecilia Payne stargazing from a tree.

The Life and Brilliance of the Woman Who Discovered What Stars Are Made Of

Wrapped in a blanket of sparkling space, an unformed star waits for its bright future to begin. Deep inside, something glimmers and glows: a new light.

Astronomer and astrophysicist Cecilia Payne was the first person to discover what burns at the heart of stars. But she didn’t start out as the groundbreaking scientist she would eventually become. She started out as a girl burning with curiosity, chasing the thrilling lightning bolt of discovery, hoping one day to unlock the mysteries of the universe.

With lyrical, evocative text by Kirsten W. Larson and extraordinary illustrations by award-winning illustrator Katherine Roy, this moving biography powerfully parallels the kindling of Cecilia Payne’s own curiosity and her scientific career with the process of a star’s birth, from mere possibility in an expanse of space to an eventual, breathtaking explosion of light.

by Kirsten W. Larson, illustrated by Katherine Roy
Chronicle Books, February 7, 2023. Ages 5-8 years

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Advance Praise for The Fire of Stars

  • "The swirling, whirling vortex cuts a dramatic figure in Roy’s glimmering starscapes . . . A luminous thematic pairing.”

    — Kirkus (starred review) ★

  • “A stellar subject, breathtaking artwork, and unique layout set this biography for young readers apart from the rest.”

    —School Library Journal (starred review) ★

  • A Junior Library Guild Selection

  • "Marrying format, language, and subject, Larson conscientiously emphasizes Payne’s accomplishments. Taking place alongside inky interstellar sidebar views, accompanying pencil and ink illustrations by Roy glow…”

    —Publisher’s Weekly (starred review) ★

  • "Kirsten Larson deftly weaves together her compelling biography of an important woman who "stick[s] to her path" despite the odds. The decision to parallel Cecilia's development with that of an emerging star is an inspired one, and Katherine Roy uses pencil, ink and digital color to create luminous illustrations that crackle with energy.”

    —Shelf Awareness (starred review) ★

  • “[M]akes a good addition to the astronomy shelves.”

    —Booklist

Painting by Katherine Roy of astronomer Cecilia Payne studying photographic glass plates of the stars as she works to determine what stars are made of.
Painting by Katherine Roy of the a protostar shrinking and smashing as it forms in space.
Painting by Katherine Roy of astronomer Cecilia Payne as a child sitting in a tree and examining the flowers in her garden.