Star Climbing [Library Binding]

Lou Fancher (Author, Illustrator), Steve Johnson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

Welcome to the magical night world of star climbing. Run and dance with Leo the Lion and Ursa the Bear. Dive into a shimmering star pool with Pisces the Fish, and rest on the glimmering back of Cygnus the Swan. Lou Fancher lets imagination soar during this fantastical journey through sparkling star constellations. Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher's breathtaking art brings the star animals to life, filled with radiance and glory.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-K-In this introduction to the constellations, an androgynous blond in white pajamas leaps from star to star, rides upon the dragon and swan constellations, and finally drifts into dreams. The child, while beautiful to look at, is perhaps too much like an Italian Renaissance angel for modern youngsters to relate to. Also, Fancher's text alternately falls short and overreaches, and the constellations are no more than a sketchy focus for an imaginary romp. When, at the story's end, the author explains the animal constellations encountered earlier, she uses language for an older audience (-¦the winged horse aided in the defeat of numerous monsters, including the ferocious Chimera). Chimera is never described. Zeus is referred to several times in this appendix but only defined at the very end, leaving readers confused. In the note about Cygnus, it is said that Zeus took the shape of a swan to make Leda, queen of Sparta, fall in love with him. This is inaccurate and exemplifies the imprecise writing here. Jacqueline Mitton's Zoo in the Sky: A Book about Animal Constellations (National Geographic, 1998) is a better bet for early explorations of this topic.-Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

PreS-K. "On nights I cannot sleep, I go star climbing . . ." begins the child narrator of this fanciful picture book. The best bedtime books ease children into a more peaceful rhythm, and this one is no exception. The child tiptoes across clouds, leaps from star to star, floats through a night sky subtly enlivened by the beasts of the constellations, and finally soars, floats, and drifts into sleep, awakening in bed the next morning. In the sky scenes, the shadowy forms of six constellations emerge (lion, bear, fish, dragon, winged horse, and swan), surrounding the star formations and interacting with the child. Deeply colored, intricately patterned, and dramatically lit, these illustrations create otherworldly settings for the scenes taking place in the star-spangled sky. The use of photographic elements is handled with far more finesse and success than in most picture books with digital elements. An appended double-page spread introduces the six constellations, including a picture of each and a paragraph briefly telling its story. An imaginative send-off to slumber. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: Laura Geringer (February 7, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060739029
• ISBN-13: 978-0060739027
• Product Dimensions: 10.6 x 8.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,794,958 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Time for Bed!, July 15, 2008

By 

Lynn Ellingwood "The ESOL Teacher" (Webster, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Star Climbing (Hardcover)

This is a nice bedtime story for young children. It also introduces the sky, stars and constellations. Beginning readers may enjoy it also. The art work is divine and the book is poetic. Nicely done.