Yes, it is that Stephen Hawking, the famous theoretical physicist. And his co-authored here is his journalist/writer daughter, Lucy.  George’s Secret Key to the Universe is the sort of book that, when I was a child, I would have devoured avidly in one or two sittings.

 The Sunday Times said it is “Like a Dr Who adventure, inspiring curiosity and amazement,” which is, I think, a very fair description. It is an adventure story interspersed with information/explanations about the workings of the cosmos, put in terms that any intelligent child can grasp.

 It is the story of George, whose parents are embarrassingly anti-technological, save-the-planet types, and his encounter with girl-next-door Annie, whose father, Eric, is a scientist who has a most amazing super computer called ‘Cosmos’, which is able to  whisk George and his friends off to anywhere in the universe.

 But there is someone else itching to get his hands on ‘Cosmos’ – the creepy Dr G. Reeper and his bunch of juvenile delinquents.

Very generously illustrated, and interlarded with full colour photographs taken by the Hubble Telescope/Advanced Camera for Surveys, this book is a treasure for children who like a rattling good yarn and who are interested (as which child is not?) in the mysteries of ‘Outer Space’.

 The Rev’d David Boulton is Diocesan Curate and Webmaster for the Free Church of England, and also a Preacher for The Leprosy Mission, England & Wales.