The Prince of Stars: Ulugh Beg’s Quest to Map the Stars and Seasons

Fifteenth-century prince Ulugh Beg’s passion for science propels this polished picture book biography, which also shines light on astronomy’s early history. Questions represent Ulugh Beg’s childhood curiosity: “How many stars are there?” When the subject becomes the ruler of Turkistan at age 15, he transforms the kingdom into “a mecca of learning” and, despite condemnation from religious leaders, persists with scientific inquiries, building the world’s largest observatory in Samarkand. Eventually, he also succeeds in producing “the greatest star catalog in history,” measuring the length of a year, and growing to understand Earth’s axial tilt. Firdauzia’s unlined digital renderings draw heavily on Islamic geometric patterns and frequently depict the subject deep in thought, while Yuksel’s straightforward narration puts full emphasis on the figure’s remarkable accomplishments. Extensive back matter includes an author’s note. Ages 4–8. (Sept.)