Wishing on a Star

July 1, 2001
Gr 4-5-This title combines brief versions of the mythological origins of nine constellations with related crafts and general stargazing advice. Bloopers mar both text and pictures: Polaris is not "visible from everywhere on Earth," and at least one star in a diagram of the Big Dipper is misplaced, so that a line drawn through it will not intersect the star Deneb as claimed. The other illustrations are a mix of informative (though much simplified) sky charts and decorative little bunnies, squirrels, and other wildlife. The accompanying activities vary inventively, from a simple star mobile to an ancient Greek-style play with paper-bag masks, but some of the directions are overcomplicated or skip potentially tricky steps. Furthermore, Lee enters chancy terrain by presenting some myths as teaching stories, such as that associated with the minor constellation Coma Berenices ("Berenice's Hair"), which commemorates a wife's tonsorial sacrifice to ensure her husband's return from danger, and one of the several tales behind Cygnus, the Swan, whose loyalty to the ill-fated Phaethon should "forever remind us of the importance of friendship." All in all, this is a well-intentioned effort that just tries too hard. Guides such as Milton Heifetz and Wil Tirion's A Walk through the Heavens (Cambridge, 1998) or Janice VanCleave's Constellations for Every Kid (Wiley, 1997) will give young sky watchers more accurate, systematic guidance and inspiration.-John Peters, New York Public Library

Copyright 2001 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.