About the Author
Raquel Smith
A passionate child psychologist and explorer of minds, Raquel holds a PhD in psychology, specializing in understanding the unique strengths of neurodiverse individuals. Graduated from the Ferkauf School of Psychology in the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (NY) Raquel devoted her life to fostering acceptance and curiosity, she guides children through stories that celebrate the wonders of different thinking styles and extraterrestrial life.
When not weaving words into magical journeys, Raquel embarks on real-life adventures, often found backpacking in the majestic Mission Mountains of Montana, and Mount Shasta in Northern California.
About the Book
Ivika and Betel
Interstellar Friendship
Embark on an adventure beyond the stars!
Betel is a curious girl who dreams of living extraordinary adventures far from Earth. She’s always felt like she didn’t quite belong… until she meets Ivika, an amazing being from the Alpha Centauri system. Together, they’ll discover that their friendship is more powerful than they ever imagined.
With Ivika’s futuristic technology and her incredible telepathic abilities, Betel is swept into a dazzling display of lights and sounds. But when the mysterious Nolums start wreaking havoc on Earth’s communication systems, it’s up to them to save the planet.
Can Betel and Ivika stop the Nolums before it’s too late?
Ivika and Betel: Interstellar Friendship is the first book in the Beyond the Stars series, perfect for children aged 7 to 10 who love thrilling adventures, science fiction, and the magic of friendship.
Stay curious
Fun Facts
Alpha Centauri isn't just one star, it's actually three! There's Alpha Centauri A, which is almost exactly like our Sun, Alpha Centauri B, a bit smaller and dimmer, and Proxima Centauri, a tiny red dwarf star.
Proxima Centauri is the closest star to our Sun, even closer than Alpha Centauri A and B. It's so close that it has its own planet, Proxima Centauri b, which might even have liquid water – how cool is that?
Even though Alpha Centauri is so close, we can't see it from most of the Northern Hemisphere. You'd have to travel to the Southern Hemisphere to spot this starry trio in the night sky.
Scientists are super curious about Alpha Centauri. They're wondering if there might be more planets hiding in this system, and if any of them could be home to life. Maybe one day, we'll even send a spaceship to explore this fascinating place!
Alpha Centauri is so bright that it's the third brightest star in the entire night sky!
Stay Updated
Educational & Resources
March 2, 2025
Further Explorations
Fostering curiosity in young children about science, extraterrestrial life, higher intelligence, intergalactic voyages, and physics can be a wonderful way...
February 5, 2025
Lets take a tour to Alpha Centauri B
Ever wonder where and how far Alpha Centauri is? Alpha Centauri: Our Starry Next-Door Neighbor! Did you know that...
Did you know that the Sun isn't the only star out there? In fact, it has some very special neighbors! Just a hop, skip, and a jump (or about 4.37 light-years) away is a star system called Alpha Centauri.