By Agnes Monod-Gayraud (author) , Elin Manon (illustrator)
"A beautifully illustrated non-fiction book that takes the reader on two incredible journeys."
Hardback Pre-order. 24th September 2026 £16.99 £15.29
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October 2026 Book of the Month
Following a summer of heat waves and eclipses, Agnes Monod-Gayraud takes us on an epic journey of discovery as we learn all about the incredible sun. And then she flips the narrative and we’re off to discover the wonders and secrets of the moon.
Young readers will enjoy the clever formatting of this book; in the first half they’ll learn all about the sun and then flip the book over and the moon becomes the focus. Alongside the interesting layout, this is an exceptionally beautifully illustrated non-fiction book, with incredible artwork that makes every page a visual treat. Text and illustrations are perfectly balanced throughout, with good use of contents pages and headers – making this a great information text to dip into.
The subjects covered are nearly as far reaching as the sun and moon themselves, I really enjoyed the wide range of surprising facts on offer. From ancient myths to modern moon landings there is much to discover and even more to delight in. I don’t doubt that budding scientists will return to and quote this book endlessly!
What makes a solar eclipse happen? Why does the Moon seem to change shape? And how does the Sun keep our planet alive? For thousands of years, people, from the Ancient Egyptians to the Greeks, have looked up with the same questions. Their stories, observations and growing scientific knowledge have helped us understand how the Sun and Moon influence life on Earth today.
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Blending ancient myths with facts, diagrams and modern discoveries, Brilliant Sun, Luminous Moon reveals what we really know about our nearest cosmic neighbours.
Beautifully illustrated, the book works in two parts - one side is dark, but flip it over and the other is bright, meeting in the middle in a stunning eclipse.
'A gorgeously illustrated book about our nearest cosmic neighbours with a special twist.' - The Bookseller
Agnes Monod-Gayraud is a translator and children's author specialising in non-fiction. She received the 2016 Best Scientific Writing Award from the UK's Society of Authors for The Book of Bees . In addition to her literary work, she serves as a language editor for the academic journal Astronomy & Astrophysics at the Paris Observatory. Agnes holds a B.A. in Comparative Literature from New York University and an M.A. in American Cultural Studies from the University of Warsaw. A native New Yorker, she now resides in London with her family.
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What makes a solar eclipse happen? Why does the Moon seem to change shape?
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed Brilliant Sun, Luminous Moon and determined it is suitable for children aged 7-12 years old
Brilliant Sun, Luminous Moon features in the following genres: Featured Books for 7+ readers, Featured Books for 9+ readers, Featured Books for 11+ readers, Books of the Month, Recommendations, Star Books, History, The Natural World, World Religions, Science, Space, Graphic Novels & Comics, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Ancient religions, Mythology and legends, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Discovery and exploration, Graphic novel / Comic book / Manga: Traditional stories, myths, legends, Children’s / Teenage: General interest, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Graphic novel / Comic book / Manga: genres
Hardback. £15.29, down from the £16.99 cover price. Pre-order. 24th September 2026.
Brilliant Sun, Luminous Moon was written by Agnes Monod-Gayraud and published by Post Wave Children's Books an imprint of Post Wave Publishing UK LTD
Brilliant Sun, Luminous Moon has 64 pages
£15.29, reduced from £16.99. Pre-order. 24th September 2026.
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