Bibliography:
Simon, Seymour. 2000. Out of Sight: Pictures of hidden worlds. New York: SeaStar Books. ISBN: 1587170116.
Plot Summary:
Out of Sight is a collection of several full-color photographs of the mundane that most people never get to see. From barely detectable subatomic particles to the unimaginably enormous nebulae, Simon puts things into perspective by providing a short descriptive paragraph for each photo. The photos are arranged into categories such as “Hidden Worlds Around You”, which features tiny bugs and velcro magnified hundreds of times. “Hidden Worlds Inside Your Body” shows X-ray photos of heads, hands and eyes, “Hidden Worlds of the Earth” contains satellite photos of the terrain as seen from Earth’s orbit, and “Hidden Worlds of Space” showcases the surreal glimpses of very far away places in the universe.
Critical Analysis:
Seymour Simon is well-known for his exploratory non-fiction books that feature large, full-color photographs with simple explanations to accompany the images. Through his body of work, children are able to stare at sights that they may never see for themselves, and learn much about the world from a simple, short book. Out of Sight incorporates many kinds of science, from biology to astrology, but variety is key to this book. Simon never overwhelms the reader, and if nothing else, he manages to inspire the reader to learn more about the subjects pictured. Sometimes, it seems that the typical 32 pages isn’t enough, and one might even be disappointed to come to the end. Simon’s work has become classic staple among non-fiction readers.
In Out of Sight, Simon has collected many types of photography from university and government collections. Readers will be able to see and enjoy the many different kinds of technology used to capture the images. The scanning electron micrograph, infrared, strobes, and satellites are just some of the ways that scientists get a view of small, fast, or enormous things. By including the different types of photography, Simon enhances the readers’ knowledge of technology as well as the science behind the images.
Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal: “This book would work well with an adult who wants to share the wonders of science with young children. Older elementary students will be able to read it on their own, although the striking presentation will also appeal to younger browsers.” – Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Publisher’s Weekly: “Photos of objects beyond the detection of the human eye, either because they are infinitesimal, too large, too far away or hidden inside the human body, are reproduced with remarkable clarity in Simon’s insightful volume.” – Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Connections:
- Choose another Seymour Simon book based on your favorite images from Out of Sight. He’s published many books on all of the subjects covered in this work.
- Use the Internet or works published in the last year to find more current photographs of the subjects pictured in Out of Sight. Compare photographs to see improvements in technology or find out what scientists have learned in the last eight years about these topics.