内容简介
The riotously funny Lilly, last seen in Chester's Way (Greenwillow), thinks her new baby brother, Julius, is disgusting--if he was a number, he would be zero. But when Cousin Garland dares to criticize Julius, Lilly bullies her into loudly admiring Julius as the baby of the world.Lilly knows her baby brother is nothing but dreadful--until she claims him for her own. "Henkes displays a deep understanding of sibling rivalry and a child's fragile self-esteem... Lilly is a superb and timely heroine.
作者简介
Kevin Henkes lives in Madison, Wisconsin. His novels include Protecting Marie and Words of Stone. Among his picture books are Owen, a 1994 Caldecott Honor Book; Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse; and Julius, the Baby of the World.
In His Own Words...
"I remember drawing at a very early age. I loved it. And my parents and teachers told me I was good at it -- that made me love it all the more."
"I also loved books, and the ones I was lucky enough to own were reread, looked at over and over, and regarded with great respect. To me great respect' meant that I took them everywhere, and the ones I still own prove it. They're brimming with all the telltale signs of true love: dog-eared pages, fingerprints on my favorite illustrations, my name and address inscribed on both front and back covers in inch-high crayon lettering, and the faint smell of stale peanut butter on the bindings."
"I wondered about authors and illustrators back then -- What did they look like? Where did they live? Did they have families? How old were they? -- but I never imagined that one day I would be one myself."
"I became an author-illustrator when I was nineteen years old. I flew from my home in Racine, Wisconsin, to New York City with my portfolio, hoping to find a publisher. And magically enough Susan Hirschman at Greenwillow Books made my dream come true. My first picture book, All Alone, was published in 1987. Since then I've written and illustrated many picture books and written several novels. I like the variety of trying new ways to fill the pages between two covers. Experimenting with words and paint and ink keeps my job interesting."
"I used to live with my parents and brothers and sister and work at a card table in my bedroom. Now I live with my wife, my son, and my daughter in our own house and work at a drawing table in my own studio. I never thought I'd be lucky enough to be a real author and illustrator. I wouldn't trade it for anything."
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精彩书评
"A reassuring, funny book for all young children who suffer from new-sibling syndrome."
——School Library Journal
前言/序言
探索浩瀚宇宙的奇妙旅程 《星际漫游指南》 这本书带领读者踏上了一场穿越广袤宇宙的史诗级旅程。它并非一本枯燥的教科书,而是一本充满奇思妙想、兼具深度与趣味的探险手册。作者以其深厚的宇宙学知识和令人惊叹的想象力,构建了一个栩栩如生的未来世界,让读者仿佛亲身置身于遥远的星系之中。 第一章:起源之谜——宇宙的诞生与演化 本章深入探讨了宇宙的起源——那个神秘的“大爆炸”瞬间。我们不再仅仅停留在理论层面,而是通过生动的叙述,描绘了早期宇宙的混沌与秩序的诞生。书中细致解析了宇宙微波背景辐射的意义,解释了它如何成为我们追溯时间尽头的“婴儿照片”。接着,内容转向恒星的诞生与死亡,从气体云的坍缩到超新星爆发的壮丽,每一个过程都被赋予了独特的叙事色彩。读者将了解不同类型恒星的生命周期,以及它们如何成为构成我们身体的元素的熔炉。特别值得一提的是,书中对黑洞的描绘,不再是冰冷的数学模型,而是充满张力的空间扭曲现象,探讨了事件视界内那些不可知的秘密。 第二章:银河系内的文明碎片 离开宏大的宇宙尺度,我们将目光聚焦于我们所在的银河系。本章详细介绍了几种极具代表性的假想文明形态。 硅基生命体的生态学: 探讨了在极端温度和压力下可能诞生的、以硅元素为基础的生命形式。作者构建了一个关于“晶体森林”的生态系统,描述了它们如何通过地热能进行缓慢而复杂的“思考”与“交流”。 等离子态意识体: 这一部分描绘了生活在巨大气态行星核心附近,以电磁场为载体的生命。他们的“社会结构”完全基于能量流动和频率共振,挑战了我们对“生命”的传统定义。 时间错位文明: 描述了一群居住在时间流速与我们截然不同的星系中的居民。他们的历史可能比人类文明的总和还要漫长,他们的科技可能已经超越了我们对物理法则的理解。书中通过记录一位“时间旅行者”对地球文明的观察日记,展现了跨越时空的哲学碰撞。 第三章:星际旅行的技术与哲学 如何跨越光年的距离?本书用详实的笔墨勾勒了几种尚未实现的,但理论上可行的星际航行技术。 曲速驱动的物理基础与挑战: 不仅介绍了爱因斯坦场方程的应用,更探讨了维持负能量密度所需要的巨大资源和潜在的因果悖论。 虫洞的架设与维护: 探讨了如何稳定一个微小的、可穿越的虫洞入口,以及在进入“捷径”之前必须解决的量子纠缠问题。 “世代飞船”的社会学实验: 深入分析了耗时数百年才能到达目的地的巨型飞船内部社会结构。船员如何维持文化认同?知识如何代代相传而不失真?书中模拟了一次飞船内部发生的权力更迭,极其引人入胜。 第四章:遥远行星的生态学与气候模拟 本书花了大量篇幅来描绘那些适宜居住或极具研究价值的系外行星。 “红色潮汐”的星球: 描绘了一颗被主星的强烈红光照射的行星。那里的植物为了吸收特定的光合作用波段,演化出了深紫色的叶片,以及抵御高强度紫外线的厚重外壳。海洋生物则进化出了复杂的生物荧光系统,用以在永恒的黄昏中进行交流。 超重力世界的生物力学: 探讨在比地球重力强三倍的环境中,生命体必须具备何种骨骼密度和肌肉结构。书中展示了“匍匐巨兽”如何依靠多足支撑和扁平的身体结构,在厚重的大气中缓慢移动。 气候工程的伦理困境: 讨论了人类如果掌握了改造行星气候的技术,应该遵循怎样的道德准则。书中通过一个虚构的案例——对一颗冰封星球进行“温室气体注入”,引发了关于生态干预和物种自治权的深刻思考。 第五章:宇宙的终极命运与存在的意义 在旅程的终点,作者将视角转向了宇宙的最终结局。我们不再讨论“热寂”、“大撕裂”或“大反弹”中的哪一个会成为现实,而是探讨:无论宇宙以何种方式终结,我们短暂的文明存在是否还有意义? 书中引用了多位假想的宇宙哲学家(例如阿卡迪安斯议会中的贤者)的观点,讨论了信息保存的可能性。如果物质终将消散,那么复杂的思维模式和情感体验是否可以通过某种高维编码的方式得以永存? 最终,本书以一种充满希望却又清醒的姿态作结:我们或许永远无法触及宇宙的边界,但对未知的探索本身,便是生命最辉煌的证明。每一次仰望星空,都是对自身渺小与伟大的双重确认。这本指南,是为所有不满足于脚下土地,渴望了解“我们是谁,我们从哪里来,我们将去向何方”的求知者而写。它是一份邀请函,邀请你放下日常的琐碎,与群星共舞。