Up, Up High – Perfect Picture Book Friday

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When a child asks “What’s up there?” and points to the sky, what do you say? If you have any doubts, Up, Up High: The Secret Poetry of Earth’s Atmosphere will help answer that question.

Coupling poetry with atmospheric science, the book is not just informative, it’s a lyrical journey from the ground to space and back again.

This opening spread sets the stage for the reader, before instructing them to don a spacesuit and climb aboard a rocket to see for themselves. Over the course of the journey, each lyrical spread describes what’s seen outside the window of the spacecraft, while callouts announce the altitude and name of each atmospheric layer. Sidebars offer more details about what’s seen, including weather balloons, sprites (nothing to do with fairies or elves!), the aurora borealis, satellites, astronauts, and the international space station.

I think the aurora borealis is my favorite spread. The colors appear to dance across the page just like the real thing. Gorgeous!

The author uses a host of poetic devices in the narrative, including alliteration, internal rhyme, assonance and consonance, setting the scene while at the same time presenting scientific facts in a beautiful dance that turns STEM into STEAM.

Back matter includes a graphic that describes the atmospheric layers surrounding Earth, including what can be seen in each layer and its temperature. The info in this graphic drives home how our atmosphere protects us from extreme cold and heat, as well as providing oxygen for life. A glossary and listing of additional resources is also included.

Activities:

Select activities from the Teacher’s Guide.

Make your own aurora borealis, using this YouTube Video by Darla Kendrick.

Select one word from the glossary and write a poem that includes the word in a meaningful way.

Title: Up, Up High: The Secret Poetry of Earth’s Atmosphere

Author: Lydia Lukidis

Illustrator: Katie Rewse

Publisher: Capstone, 2025

Themes: space, atmospheric science, journeys

Ages: Elementary school

For more perfect picture book recommendations, please visit Susanna Hill’s website.