Kingdom Of The Sun: A Book About the Planets (Hardcover)

~ Jacqueline Mitton (Author), Christina Balit (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Children take a wondrous tour of our solar system in this stunning new book that weaves mythology and astronomy in magical ways. Jacqueline Mitton’s poetic text explores each planet, comparing its features to those of the Roman god or goddess for whom it was named.

Although this naming occurred long before humans had accurate information about the planets, the book points out some remarkable coincidences based on what we know today. The veiled goddess Venus, for example, lends her name to a cloud-veiled planet. And the blue, stormy planet Neptune is named for the god of the sea.

Christina Balit’s glorious illustrations, sparkling with gold-foil accents, bring the mythology to life and draw children into the wonders of our planetary kingdom. This intriguing and highly informative book—a sequel to the same team’s best-selling Zoo in the Sky—presents the most up-to-date, scientific details about the planets in an artful way that will stir the minds and imaginations of young readers.

About the Author

DR JACQUELINE MITTON holds an MA in physics from the University of Oxford and a Doctorate in astrophysics from the University of Cambridge. A distinguished writer on astronomy, she is also the Public Relations Officer for the Royal Astronomical Society. Asteroid 4027 was named Mitton for Jacqueline and her husband, astronomer Simon Mitton, by the International Astronomical Union in 1990. CHRISTINA BALIT studied at Chelsea School of Art and the Royal College of Art. In 1982 she won a Thames Television Travelling Design Bursary and illustrated Report to Greco by Niko Kazantisakis. She has exhibited widely and is also a playwright. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books; First American Edition edition (October 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 079227220X
• ISBN-13: 978-0792272205
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #351,859 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly beautiful gift book, December 15, 2001

By	Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

Kingdom Of The Sun: A Book Of The Planets a truly exciting picturebook that takes young readers on a cosmic tour through the solar system. Published by the National Geographic Society, Kingdom of the sun is filled with scientific facts about each planet as well as mythological lore about the gods after whom the planets are named. The color illustrations of the ancient gods and their planets against the backdrop of space are particularly striking, and the eye-catching use of shiny gold foil makes Kingdom Of The Sun a picturebook that compels admiration. The last two pages feature a short glossary and a table of facts about the sun, moon, and planets. Wonderfully written by Jacqueline Mitton and superbly illustrated by Christina Balit, Kingdom of the Sun is a truly beautiful gift book, superb for sparking an interest in science and astronomy in young people, and very highly recommended.

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gods, Planets, Science and Mythology, September 15, 2007

By	Morning Dove "Liz" (Delmar, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kingdom of the Sun: A Book of the Planets (Paperback)

This is an excellent book for NeoPagan parents who want to introduce to their kids some of the foundational concepts of Astrology. It includes both the science and the sacred myth along with spectacular art for each planet in our solar system. It also includes information about the Gods that the planets are named for. Each planet "speaks" biographically, in the first person, in such a way that is reminiscent of the language I've experienced in Wiccan ritual. (Such as "The Charge of the Goddess".) If you lean towards a Roman or Hellenic (Greek) pantheons, this book will be especially relevant to your practice of NeoPaganism. Again, the art is fantastic, with shiny metallic silver and golds mixed in with vibrant colors. The pictures here do not give it justice! I recommend this book for any NeoPagan bookstore's parenting and or children's section. In fact, that's where I bought my copy, at my local Witchy book store!