you are stardust / stardust portraits

You Are Stardust written by Elin Kelsey, artwork by Kim Soyeon.

Guys, I really recommend sliding this beauty off the shelf for a stunning read.

It tells the reader, “You are stardust.” And it means it literally. Scientifically.

 

 

“Every tiny atom in your body came from a star that exploded long before you were born.”

 

 

It’s pure poetry made from the stuff of science.

And Soyeon Kim‘s artwork? Each spread is actually a 3D diorama, full of layered textures and different techniques. It’s extraordinary. The muted colors, the bits of sparkle, the way we’re allowed to see each piece’s handmade qualities. While the text lets us in on secrets, so does the art.

 

 

 

Says author Elin Kelsey,

“I wrote You Are Stardust because I didn’t just want to tell kids they are part of nature. I wanted to show them in a more personal way, by linking what happens in their own bodies to what happens in the sky, the ocean, the forests, and to other animals.”

 

Anyone who reads this book will learn plenty, about the water cycle, growth spurts,  electricity in our brains, and more. But it’s not just facts. Each page further connects us to nature, how we mimic it and are made from it.

 

 

My favorite line is:

“Your breath is alive with the promise of flowers.”

“Each time you blow a kiss to the world, you spread pollen that might grow to be a new plant.”

 

What a beautiful thought. What incredible interconnectedness.

“We are all stardust.”

 

Thanks to Owlkids Books for images!

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When I think of stardust, I have to admit it’s David Bowie in his Ziggy Stardust incarnation that immediately comes to mind.

 

 “Aladdin Sane” David Bowie poster from kitschaus on etsy.

 

 

Ziggy Stardust doll by My Name is Simone.

 

 

But after digging for more stardust inspiration, I discovered Stardust Portraits by Sergio Albiac through designboom!  The artist takes photographs people submit to him and combines them with footage of space from the Hubble Telescope. And Voila! We are stardust [portraits]. Gorgeous no?

 

 

 

 

 

You can still submit your own photograph to be included in the project!