Customer Reviews

Zoo in the Sky: A Book of Animal Constellations

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

We check out many library books each week and I try to get onto Amazon and review them so that I have a record of my impressions of each. I want to make note of those I didn't like; and then there are some, like this stunning volume, I want to make sure I don't forget exist! I can see us checking this book out over and over as my child (now almost 4) gets older and continues with homeschooling. This is a wonderful book and if you are shopping for something that will encourage your child to enjoy the wonders of nature, a book to take along on family camping trips and nature walks; if you want to teach your child ancient stories of the skies, expose them to different cultures; or you are looking for literature which will inspire your storytelling and help you raise a creative imaginative child -- this is the book for you!! Buy it (and I will, too).

My son really enjoyed this book because he loves animals. It explains, in simple terms, the various constellations. The illustrations are beautifully done and very engaging.

I give this book 5 stars based on my son's enjoyment of it. I first saw this book at our Nature Center, and he so enjoyed it that I bought him a copy. I truly believed it would be too old for him (he's 3 1/2) but he adores it. I think because we go to the planetarium often he is able to really make the connections between what we see at the planetarium and in the book. The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and the information is very well presented. We also have 2 other of Ms. Mitton's books. While at first glance they may seem too advanced for the preschool crowd, I can testify that the preschoolers I know (my son and his classmates) really love these books and go back to them over and over. I highly recommend Ms. Mitton's books.

I looked over the book after I received it and was so satisfied that children of any age could learn so much about the star constellations. I gave the book as a gift to my five year old granddaughter who loves to look up into a dark night with me to view the stars and Jupiter too. It is complex enough for older children and as an adult, I learn from it too.

This book has nice pictures. Just minimal information though. I was hoping for more historical information on the story of the stars.

Review by Sherry North, Author, Because You Are My Baby

With captivating artwork and just the right amount of information, this book is a wonderful introduction to the constellations. I took my 3-year-old son to the science section of our local bookstore and let him pick out one book, and this is what he chose. He made a great choice, because he asks to see it again and again, and we both enjoy reading it. The star maps at the front and back are very helpful for finding the actual constellations in the night sky - transforming a reading activity into a real-world activity that captures the imagination of preschoolers.

We borrowed thhis from the library and my daughter liked it so much, I later purchased it on Amazon.

Bought this for my 5 and 8 year old daughters who are both interested in the night sky and just got a telescope....my wife and I thought this book was well done!

I work with Children in a 3 to 6 year old
in a Montessori school
The children enjoyed the pictures and the stories.
The book encouraged interest in other star activities

I bought this book and a Night Sky Star Wheel as a gift for my young grand children. I have been active with astronomy for well over 20 years. The book is terrible if in any way trying to relate an animal constellation to any actual constellation in the sky. That is by itself or even trying to use it with a star wheel. For example, the book has a creative drawing of The Great Bear and in part reads "Two bright stars across her back point straight across to Polaris, the North Star." Neither the 'two bright' stars nor Polaris are identifiable. There is no way to see or even imagine "the Big Dipper" within the pictured Great Bear or get any other celestial reference. To me, the whole purpose of the book. Zoo in the Sky, while relatively inexpensive, is of high quality materials printed in China. It is not even entertaining for under 12 and not nearly informative enough for over 13.