My standard way of describing a real, truly honest, five star read is if mankind would be well served by stapling it to the side of a rocket and sending it to space. And for once here's a text designed to have exactly that fate. And you know what? I wasn't too impressed. This verse is stuck on the side of a ship that will reach orbit around Europa, all being well, in 2030, and this message-across-the-void is designed to prove our curiosity at that void, our love of learning and our respect for the mysteries on all worlds – orbiting Jupiter or the one under our feet.

Visually this is certainly impressive, if derivative – one page clearly wants to honour van Gogh, another shows star children in a very star children way. The layout however has the text in real scattershot areas of the page, interrupting the 'flow' of what might as well be blank verse. Yet even when reading the verses plain, as we see them at the end, I can't say I was particularly enamoured. It's an endeavour full to bursting of well-meaning, and that has swamped all the corners leaving nowhere near enough appeal. I admired the artistic craft, but the script did very little, and to declare it as a young read for children is misguided in the extreme.

Thank you to Ada Limón, W. W. Norton & Company, Norton Young Readers, and Netgalley for this advanced reader copy of "In Praise of Mystery: A Poem for Europa." I jumped at the chance to get my hands on another of the current American Poet Laureate publications, especially as it intersected several things I love—poetry, gorgeous art, kids' books, and the grandiose wonder of space. Kids will adore this little book, and I can't wait to get Christmas copies for my nieces and nephews.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own


A beautiful poem with beautiful illustrations. My only complaint is that some of the pages are harder to read.

U.S, Poet laureate, Ada Limon wrote a beautiful poem that is to be engraved on the Europa Clipper spaceship that will be sent by NASA on a journey to Jupiter and its moons in October 2024. The poem has been formatted into a picture book and illustrated by Caldecot honoree Peter Sis. The result is a beautiful work of art created by two masters of their work. Limon's poem captures the yearning to go beyond the world that we know, to explore farther and to deepen understanding. Sis's illustrations complement her words with dazzling images that invite the reader to stop and study them. I'm so happy to have found this book that is perfect for all ages.

Written for the upcoming space trip to Jupiter and engraved on the spacecraft Europa Clipper, this is a luminous poem about mystery and curiosity and exploration and our need for all three of these thing and our want of knowing what is beyond; it is really perfect for this upcoming trip.

Gorgeously illustrated, this whole book evokes wonder and excitement and everyone who reads it will be swept up in that excitement and I am sure will promote more interest in the upcoming space travel and encourage more reading about space and what we know and what we do not know.

Well done!!

Thank you to NetGalley, U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón, Caldecott Honoree Peter Sí - Illustrator and W,W, Norton & Company/Norton Young Readers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a beautiful poem with an even cooler back story — it’s being sent into outer space! However, it doesn’t quite work as a children’s book. This could be great as an illustrated adult’s book — the illustrations are breathtaking, but the words are hard to make out amongst the artwork (although this may not be an issue in physical print). I could see a children’s book that centers on the writing process; characterizing Ada Limon and focusing on her heroism as a purveyor of the arts into a whole new realm (literally). This could spark inspirations in young artists and writers who are space-curious but don’t have the typical astronaut aspirations.

Thank you so much to the author/illustrator, Norton Young Readers and NetGalley for the eARC!

An abstract, magical realistic picture book about outerspace, humanity, and what connects us and gives life (water).

This picture book is shockingly beautiful and has great vocabulary and an even cooler backstory. I just wonder who this book is for- I think this is a perfect example of a picture book for older kids to dissect with grown-ups. Collections of poetry often get checked out at our library, but single poem picture books have not done as well, such as The Undefeated, which is just... incredible.

I think books like this are a huge appeal of libraries-- we aren't just trying to sell Pete the Cat or Dr. Seuss-- we are trying to show people unique books that they didn't even know could exist. I'm tempted to buy this book just to put it in the space section and see what happens. What do you do with an incredible book that no one will check out?

In Praise of Mystery is a lovely poem accompanied by the most wonderful illustrations by Peter Sis. It makes a great book to use in class or as a bedtime story for little explorers, dreamers, and wanderers.

I requested this book purely because of the illustrator. Peter Sís is one of my most favourite illustrators ever and his illustrations in this book are as exceptional as the rest of his work. I loved the blues and the way that the images linked together. For me, the poem was a bit of a bonus and I am already thinking of how we could use it in school as it feels very 'us'. It's a book that you could go back to many times and always spot something new. I can't wait to get a print copy!

In Praise of Mystery is a profound poem about existence and this little book is accompanied by cool art.
I see this as a book that can be explored to prompt discussions about space, space technology and what makes us human.

A beautiful short picture book, illustrating a lyrical poem. It’s only a few pages long but definitely beautiful and laced with meaning.

How torn I am on this review! My quarrel is not with Ada Limón’s poem per se. She was U.S. poet laureate, after all, so the poem’s inspiring. The poem “In Praise of Mystery” will be heading into outer space aboard NASA’s Europa Clipper. Lyrical as it is, I’m not sure that aliens orbiting Jupiter will be able to understand “In Praise of Mystery.” I am sure that the target audience for this children’s picture book won’t have the least idea what the poem’s about. Maybe they’ll think it’s Encyclopedia Brown in poem form? Or maybe a plea for Earth to get a second moon? My guess is that the children will enjoy the illustrations by Peter See, who received a Caldecott Medal honor award, and ignore the words. I really don’t think there’s an actual audience for this picture book.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, W. W. Norton & Company and Norton Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful picture book collaboration perfect for any public library collection. While the artwork of Peter Sís will be immediately recognizable by young patrons and their caregivers, the works of Ada Limón might be less familiar to this audience. As a result, this book would make a fantastic story time read aloud for a poetry party or, given that it celebrates a space launch and journey to Europa, a story time focused on space exploration.

While younger readers will enjoy falling into the detailed and dreamlike illustrations, the informational end matter (including the full text of the poem) provides a jumping off point for additional exploration by older readers. Thank you to NetGalley for access to this arc!