Once Upon A Starry Night.jpg

Title: Once Upon a Starry Night: A Book of Constellations

Author: Jacqueline Mitton

Illustrator: Christina Balit

Date: 2009

Tags: 6+, Picture Book, Astronomical Myths, Greco-Roman Mythology, Read aloud

This book provides short, age-appropriate versions of the most exciting constellation myths, including Perseus and Andromeda, Hercules, Lyra (Orpheus), Orion, and Argo (Jason and the Argonauts). The story of Perseus’s rescue of Andromeda stretches across multiple pages and multiple constellations. It has enough scientific information to be useful as an astronomical reference book.  The text does an excellent job with the stories and also points out the constellation’s best astronomical features, but the real jewels of the book are its illustrations. The mythical figures are illustrated in dynamic poses in the style of multicolored mosaics. The stars inside the figures sparkle with silver foil. The exciting narrative paired with the gorgeous illustrations create a sense of wonder that will ignite the love of the stars in any reader. It’s part of a series with Zoo in the Sky, and The Planet Gods. – Krishni Burns