Some stars are bigger than our sun. They're called red giants. Some stars are smaller than our sun. They hold still, absorbing every word, each illustration. They are so rapt, they do not even notice as Mrs. St. Clair moves around the room, making sure that all their shoes are tied.
Some stars get very old, and they explode, boom, like a firecracker.
The children's eyes grow big as Mrs. Crow reads these words. They're called supernovas. In the next room, working with the older class, Mrs. Chip is handing out plastic foam balls. Each student gets two. They will paint the big ones yellow and the little ones blue.