Constellations for Kids: The Stories of the Stars

My 10 year old could understand this book and I learned something too. Nicely written and illustrated.

Awesome

Gave it to my niece for her 4th bday and the day it arrived my brother asked her what she learned about today and she said constellations! And this book was perfect timing and perfect for her as it perfectly matched what she was learning about and then some. It gives a cute easy to understand image with an informative but brief and simple back story and meaning behind the shape and name.

I read this with my 3 and 5 year old granddaughters and they liked it! We found that it was too long to read all at once so used the sections they really liked. My thoughts are that elementary age students would get lots of information and enjoyment from this book. Pictures and drawings were their favorites! It was a great review for me too!

Really fun book for adults and little ones -- stories mixed with knowledge. My only complaint is that it doesn't do all of the constellations! I'd gladly get a part II with the rest of them

This children’s book is a fabulous start for aspiring astronomers and future classical scholars alike! In it, science educator Ann Pearson tells, in a kid-friendly and appropriate fashion, the Greek myths behind the constellations in the nighttime sky. With humor and whimsy, Pearson draws parallels between a storybook, like this one, and the constellations themselves, which serve as illustrations for fantastical tales of gods, goddesses, heroes, and mythical beasts. The book does a great job of making Greek mythology relevant to kids today. For example, Pearson compares the Hellenic heroes to modern-day superheroes. The book’s images cleverly show each constellation’s outline and then, in effect, put meat on those bones by showing the same constellation as an engaging, fully fleshed-out illustration. For parents and children interested in going outdoors to stargaze and see the constellations for themselves, the book offers handy seasonal maps. For those wanting to expand their vocabulary on this intriguing subject, the book also offers a helpful glossary filled with key terms. Whether your young reader wants to know more about the stars or hear some intriguing stories from antiquity, this book is a marvelous place to begin the journey!

I was fortunate to receive an advanced copy of Constellations for Kids: The Stories of the Stars. This is a great book to introduce young children to the constellations and the stories associated with them. “Constellations are like the pictures in a book that we can use to tell stories.” Using age-appropriate language and eye-catching artwork, the author simplifies the famous Greek myths and legends behind the constellations into kid-friendly stories of gods, heroes, and mythological creatures. Each constellation is shown in two different ways (the dot-to-dot connections between the stars and the complete animal, person, or shape that it represents) and comes with helpful tips about when and where to look for it. At the end of the book, seasonal maps of the night sky are also provided for easy identification of the constellations at different times of year. This book is sure to engage young children, inspire them to search for constellations in the sky, and spark their imagination to create their own stories of the stars!

First, I will let you know I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced copy of the book. The text is well written and contains fabulous illustrations. Sharing the nighttime sky was something we did as my kids were growing up. This book would have certainly helped my children visualize what I was trying to describe. The ages listed for the book are 3-5 but I really think the book grows with the child and will be well admired by all ages. As a small child, parents can read and share, as they get older, they will be able to use this as a reference on their own. The text is easy to understand as the author gives explanations behind the Greek Mythology in each constellation. I also appreciated the guide as to when to find each during the seasons. Every child’s bookshelf needs this book!