Orbiting Objects

What's Up There?

Children - Educational
29 Pages
Reviewed on 09/11/2026
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers' Favorite

Orbiting Objects is an educational picture book for children by Charles Bales. When you look up at the clear night sky, you can see the moon, the stars, and moving lights. Do you know what those moving lights are? Some of them might be airplanes, but others are almost always orbiting objects. The moon is also an orbiting object, a natural one circling the Earth in High Earth Orbit (HEO). Many of these orbiting objects are closer to the Earth's surface in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). They include the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and the International Space Station (ISS). There are plenty of other man-made orbiting objects too. That's space junk, which is becoming a major problem, one that we need to solve quickly. Fortunately, the ISS can change direction.

With an easy-to-read, engaging writing style, Charles Bales presents an informative picture book that is bound to catch the imagination of young readers. Most kids love anything to do with space, the moon, and the stars. This is why I think this will appeal to children everywhere. In my opinion, parents will also love reading this aloud to their youngsters. Orbiting Objects is a great book to instill a love of science and astronomy in children from a young age. Bales narrates the book in a way that makes astronomy feel really interesting. Madelyn Kim has also done a fantastic job with the illustrations. They are eye-catching and complement the narrative perfectly. Personally, even as an older reader and someone who loves space-related stuff, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Highly recommended.

Doreen Chombu

Orbiting Objects (What's Up There?) is a children's educational book written by Charles Bales with illustrations by Madelyn Kim. It teaches readers about celestial bodies found in space. We can see the stars, the sun, and the moon in the sky, but there are other objects around us that help us communicate and observe our universe. You will learn what Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and High Earth Orbit (HEO) actually are, and see how Earth’s gravity keeps everything spinning in place. The Moon is our planet’s natural satellite and the reason our ocean tides rise and fall. Space is busy these days, between powerful telescopes, the International Space Station, and a surprising amount of “junk,” old, useless stuff left floating out there. Get ready to travel beyond our atmosphere and find out what it takes to keep all these objects in orbit, along with the tough job scientists have in managing all that space debris.

Orbiting Objects is an informative read that can be enjoyed by anyone who is interested in learning about what is circling Earth. Charles Bales has included detailed information about satellite designs and what each component does. Fun facts, such as how, unlike the Earth, the Moon has no atmosphere or weather, make you wonder what else you do not know about our Moon. The book also makes you appreciate human innovation, the way we communicate, receive television signals, and connect to the internet. The art perfectly complements the text and helps you follow the lessons and key points. What I really loved is that the text and the art are on separate pages, making the book easy to read for anyone with reading difficulties. I truly enjoyed this book. If you’re into astronomy or anything to do with space travel, check it out.

Anne-Marie Reynolds

Orbiting Objects: What's Up There? by Charles Bales opens with a question kids will actually relate to. Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what those moving lights are? From there, it walks through what an orbit actually is, and how gravity keeps everything from the Moon to satellites circling around Earth instead of drifting off. Instead of diving straight into the technical stuff, it starts with the Moon, moving on to human‑made objects like satellites, the Hubble Space Telescope, and the International Space Station, showing how they connect to everyday things kids use, like TV and the internet. There's also a section on space junk, the old broken-down satellites and rocket pieces still floating around up there, and why scientists are trying to figure out how to clean it up. It wraps up by sending kids back outside to see how many orbiting objects they can spot for themselves.

Orbiting Objects: What's Up There? by Charles Bales does a good job of taking big ideas like gravity and orbits and breaking them down so kids can actually follow along without getting lost. I liked that it doesn't talk down to young readers, comparing gravity to something as ordinary as a ball rolling off a table, which is the kind of thing that actually sticks with a kid. Madelyn Kim's illustrations suit the book well, and they help make space feel a bit less abstract for kids who are just starting to learn about it. The bit about space junk was a nice surprise too; it's not something you often see in books pitched at this age group, and it gives kids something real to think about beyond just the Moon and stars. This was written by an author who genuinely wanted to make space feel exciting rather than intimidating. A solid pick for any child who's curious about what's actually up there past our own planet, and it might be just the thing to get them looking up at night with a bit more curiosity.

Emily-Jane Hills Orford

Do you enjoy looking up at the night sky, watching the dancing lights of stars? Did you know that some of the dancing lights you see are not stars from a distant galaxy, but are orbiting objects, some of which are man-made, like the satellites that keep us connected? Charles Bales’ Orbiting Objects presents the many types of orbiting objects that circumnavigate planet Earth, including the moon! There is also growing concern about man-made junk polluting space: satellites and other objects launched into space with the understanding that they will never return to Earth. That means, when satellites break down and are no longer useful, they’re left in space. Apparently, there are something like 40,000 pieces of space junk orbiting planet Earth, and there is increasing fear that when these large pieces of junk collide, they can cause considerable damage.

Charles Bales’ picture book, Orbiting Objects: What’s Up There?, is an interesting introduction to what we see in the night sky. With spectacular illustrations by Madelyn Kim, this book is both educational and fascinating for young readers. The language is simple, so young readers can easily follow along and improve their reading skills. Everything is explained with care, so there is no confusion about what is being shared, and the information is presented in a structured manner, which helps young readers follow along with ease. Young readers will be inspired by this book and perhaps want to pursue a career in astronomy or even space travel.

Olga Markova

Orbiting Objects: What’s Up There? is a wonderful educational book for children by talented author Charles Bales. The book explains what orbiting objects are, how they are used, and where they are in relation to Earth. In addition, the book anticipates questions from junior readers and provides an abundance of interesting facts and useful concepts. The book also helps children to understand difficult abstract concepts, such as gravity and orbit, by introducing them in child-friendly language. Young readers also discover fascinating information about the International Space Station, including what it looks like, how it is used, and how it relates to phenomena and objects children know, such as weather, computers, rockets, and food. The book also tells about space junk and how to deal with it. So, what makes orbiting objects special?

Orbiting Objects by Charles Bales impressed me with its informative content and clear presentation. Although I am an adult, I enjoyed learning about the International Space Station and space junk. I also liked how concisely and memorably the book explained gravity, low and high Earth orbits, and what the moon is like. The choice of font style, size, and density was perfectly tailored to junior readers’ limited attention span. In addition, the full-page illustrations by artist Madelyn Kim were remarkable in supporting the narrative with clear, diagrammatic visuals that reinforced the scientific facts and concepts introduced in the book. I highly recommend this praiseworthy book for children curious about space and astronomy and school teachers who will also find it a useful aid for stimulating students' interest in physics and astronomy.