Welcome to Perfect Picture Book Friday! 😊
I’m so excited to share today’s book with you!
You may remember that almost exactly a year ago I reviewed the wonderful DEEP, DEEP DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench by Lydia Lukidis, illustrated by Juan Calle (Capstone Editions, Dec. 29, 2022).
Today, I’m thrilled to be sharing the companion book: UP, UP HIGH: The Secret Poetry of Earth’s Atmosphere!
Get ready to have your socks knocked off because it’s out of this world! 😊
Title: Up, Up High: The Secret Poetry of Earth’s Atmosphere
Written By: Lydia Lukidis
Illustrated By: Katie Rewse
Publisher: Capstone Editions (January 1, 2025) nonfiction
Suitable For Ages: 8-11
Themes/Topics: earth’s atmosphere, space, nonfiction
Opening:
“Up,
up,
high,
higher than the tallest trees,
higher than the biggest buildings,
floats an invisible world –
Earth’s atmosphere.”
text copyright Lydia Lukidis 2025, illustration copyright Katie Rewse 2025, Capstone Editions
Brief Synopsis: [from the publisher] “Look up—into the blue and beyond. What do you see? The sky—our atmosphere—may seem empty or invisible. But is it? Takes an imagined journey up, up high to discover the surprising and wonderous things flying, floating, and happening between the treetops and the stars in this STEM-based picture book.”
text copyright Lydia Lukidis 2025, illustration copyright Katie Rewse 2025, Capstone Editions
Links To Resources: Author Lydia Lukidis was kind enough to supply the following activity!
Third Grade
3-LS4-3. Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all. [Clarification Statement: Examples of evidence could include needs and characteristics of the organisms and habitats involved. The organisms and their habitat make up a system in which the parts depend on each other.]
Example activity:
Based on what you read in Up, Up High, what do humans need to be able to travel to higher levels of the atmosphere? How do you adapt to different weather? What would you need to bring to live in the International Space Station? Write and illustrate your answer.
Sentence starters: In the troposphere, humans travel in ____ and need… (Repeat with stratosphere, etc.)
text copyright Lydia Lukidis 2025, illustration copyright Katie Rewse 2025, Capstone Editions
Why I Like This Book: What an absolutely fabulous book this is! The story, which takes you up, up, up (and then back down) is lyrical and engaging, putting readers directly into the experience of going up through all the layers of earth’s atmosphere and showing them all the things they might see. In addition, sidebars of text explain, in easy-to-understand scientific terms, loads of relevant, fascinating details. I learned a lot of things I didn’t know! And while all of it was interesting, I think my favorite fact was about Alan Eustace going up with a helium balloon and space jumping, falling back toward earth at 822 mph, faster than the speed of sound! Isn’t that crazy?! The art is colorful and conveys different moods, from peaceful to more dynamic, and the writing is so engaging it makes you feel like you’re there, and I dare any reader – young or older – not to be drawn in. Highly recommended for any bookshelf!
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊
Susanna Leonard Hill 
Sounds like we ought to keep a lookout for Susanna in a helium balloon! Will also keep a lookout for this book!
Hahaha! I have a risk-taking streak (not so much as when I was younger, but still…) but falling from space at 822 mph is NOT on my bucket list 🙂
You wouldn’t see it on mine either!
Perfect for ages 8-11 and beyond. Love facts and the fact I will be learning when I pick up the book. Thanks for sharing!
♥️
You will really enjoy it I’m sure, Robin. It’s wonderful!
My dad was an astrophysicist, so my childhood was filled with talk of the stars and space exploration. I have a feeling I’m going to want to make a cup of tea and settle into this book. Thanks for a great book review!
Oh, wow! How cool, Leslie! With that background, you might already know a lot of what’s in this book, but for me it was an education 🙂
I love how Lydia made a series with her ideas! Looking forward to reading her newest! (Snow has kept me from the library too long!)
You will love it, Wendy! It’s really good! I’m not sure where she could go next, but I sure hope there’s another one!
I love it! This book is perfect for right now, when we can see all those planets lined up! Very cool. Can’t wait to read Lydia’s new book.
You are going to love it, Angie! It’s so good!
I will be looking for this book. Can’t wait to read it.
You are in for a treat, Lori!
I love Lydia’s book!!! Great pick!
Thanks, Jilanne! I know you (or someone, or maybe a couple people 🙂 ) did it last week! It deserves to be shared around a lot!
what a great book – thanks for sharing!
My pleasure, Robin! It’s a great read!
Feeling the atmospheric vibes with this peek inside 🙂
The book is really beautifully thought out, designed, and written, Charlotte! It makes you feel like you’re going up, up, up!
A fun book with lots of interesting information! Perfect for kids. 🙂
So true! I learned all kinds of things and I am technically not even a kid! 🙂
Lydia’s books never disappoint ❣️
They are wonderful books!
Lydia’s books are always so informative and beautifully written!
So true!
I’m so excited about this book. It’s for all ages. So much amazing info and fun facts. Thanks, Lydia! And thanks, Susanna 🙂
It’s really a terrific book, Marty! You will love it!