Stikky Night Skies (Paperback)

~ Laurence Holt (Author) "Take a look at the night sky..." (more)
Key Phrases: real sky, sky objects, Big Dipper, Milky Way, Sequence Two (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-8-This sight-based tutorial uses a carefully paced series of basic modules and constant reinforcement to teach even mildly motivated readers how to recognize six northern hemisphere constellations, four stars, and a galaxy. Readers will also learn how to spot planets along the plane of the ecliptic, and to use stars to tell which way is north. Each page has a simplified black sky view with a brief instruction or comment-"Okay, so find the Big Dipper in this piece of sky"-in white. Readers are urged to pause at the end of each of the three sequential sections before tackling the next exercise. A hefty selection of print and Web resources, plus advice about choosing and using a telescope, provides "Next Steps." Though not specifically aimed at them, children will have no trouble using this unusual, informal approach to making sense of the night sky. The associated Web site offers, among other features, a discussion of the pedagogical method.
John Peters, New York Public Library
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

A fascinating, clever, and delightful book. -- Ken Lang, Tufts Professor of Astronomy and author of The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the Sun

As entertaining as it is effective. -- PBS, July 2003

Don't expect an ordinary book. -- Washington Post, July 2003

Innovative and irrestible...this book is addictive. -- Richard Ellis, reviewing editor of Science magazine

No sentient person should be without these basic tools for looking up. We owe it to ourselves. -- Neil deGrasse Tyson, Director, Hayden Planetarium, New York City

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Laurence Holt Books (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1568582536
• ISBN-13: 978-1568582535
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,309,767 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Stikky" It Is, March 26, 2003

By	John C. Calhoun (Morristown, NJ) - See all my reviews

This is far and away the most outstanding book on amateur astronomy I've ever seen. If you've ever had a teacher who explained things in such a way that they stikk to your mind forever, this book will let you relive that experience. In fact, my seven year old son can already identify many constellations. After you read this book, leave the telescope behind, just walk out into the night sky and enjoy the thrill of knowing your way around it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stars! Fun, captivating, & surprisingly effective, March 19, 2003

By A Customer

Impress your friends, your date, your children! There's something magical about reading the night sky, and, if you're not already an astronomer, this book will change the way you view the heavens.

Yes, my brain is full, and I don't have time to learn anything new. But the folks who created this book are on to something - it's catchy, it's sticky, uh, Stikky. Each page and each chapter builds and reinforces your knowledge. You really do have to read this book one page at a time, though - no skimming!

Definitely buy this book before your next plane trip. You'll have some fun and gain some knowledge to share at your next cocktail party. It would also make a nice gift - maybe when you're done with it?!

Reading "Stikky Night Skies" is like playing a game, and I'll bet that kids - perhaps as young as 10 or 12 - would have a great time with it, too.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Easy way to learn to recognize constellations, February 25, 2004

By	Harold McFarland (Florida) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

A simple but effective approach, "Stikky Night Skies" teaches the reader how to recognize six constellations, 4 major stars, a planet, and how to always determine north in the night sky. Besides showing the constellation pattern and describing how to recognize it the book contains multiple pages of actually night skies to practice on. After completing the book it is fairly simple to locate each of the constellations mentioned.

I did have one problem with the book. The gluing method used to attach the cover on my copy was of such poor quality that the cover came off with just one reading. Of course it can just be glued back on with good quality hot glue, but you would expect it to be of better quality from the beginning.

Other than this one caveat, if you want to know how to recognize a handful of constellations that you can use as a base to learn other ones, you can't go wrong with "Stikky Night Skies".