Galileo: Conqueror of the Stars

In this biography for middle graders, the life of Galileo Galilei unfolds as he uses mathematics and observation to challenge centuries-old ideas about the heavens. The narrative follows his groundbreaking telescopic discoveries, his clash with the Catholic Church, and his struggle to defend the Copernican view that planets orbit the Sun. Sidebars and historic images help explain the scientific method and the concepts behind his findings. The story captures both the excitement of early modern science and the personal cost of questioning established authority.