Starry Sky, Revised Edition

This is a great intro for kids, the white words and the realistic paintings pop off the black pages in a way that makes it a lot of fun to read. Information is presented clearly and directly, it is as if this astronomer is in your living room talking directly to his young audience, respecting their interest in astronomy without in any way speaking down to them. My kids love to watch the stars at night, they have gone on to charting the skies and making observations through a telescope, but it all started with this book. It is just the best of its kind.

I would like to thank Patrick Moore and his artist Tom Doherty for bringing the stars to life in this excellant childrens book. Since my son was born I have taken a picture of him and his Dad reading it each and every month on the 12th.

Noted astronomer Patrick Moore hurls planets, comets, and meteors into the minds of young readers with this colorful, engaging book. Useful as both a reference and a factual reading book, The Starry Sky progresses from the familiar earth to the abstract universe, focusing on our Solar System, the stars, and other galaxies in between. The book provides a spectrum of information, ranging from physical characteristics of celestial bodies to the historical background of common constellations. Moore successfully explains complex phenomena using comparisons and everyday observations; for example, he relates the burning of meteors by friction to the heat of a worked tire pump. He also urges readers to experiment in order to understand concepts. Moore maintains a serious, yet entertaining tone, providing a factual text that also fosters astronomy as a hobby and encourages children to consider other forms of life and our possible future inhabitation of the Moon and Mars. Paul Doherty's illustrations, both encircled by main text and captioned, serve as visuals for ideas children are likely to construct from the text. When Moore mentions Mars' two moons, an illustration depicts a Martian horizon based on this idea. Captions provide extra tidbits of information and descriptions of both drawings and photographs alike. Appropriate for children ages six to ten, younger children will enjoy the pictures and cohesive, story-like text this book offers, while older children will love learning about planets, the life of stars, and the rest of their universe.