ALA Booklist (Sun Nov 01 00:00:00 CST 1998)

Using sparkling silver stars to indicate animal constellations in the night sky, this colorful picture book certainly has eye appeal. Each turn of the page brings another horizontal spread featuring one constellation, delineated by the shining stars and fleshed out with a well-designed, brilliantly colored portrait of the beast. The accompanying text generally consists of five or six lines, such as, The Scorpian has a nasty sting in his tail. Beware as he scuttles across the Milky Way. Mitton, with a Ph.D. in astrophysics from Cambridge, limits herself to this rather fanciful and disjointed accompaniment to the well-designed illustrations until the last two pages, which are given over to excellent discussions of stars, the constellations, and the night sky. Sky maps appear on the endpapers. Students researching individual constellations will need more substance; however, younger children will find this a visually dynamic introduction to the animal constellations. (Reviewed November 1, 1998)

Horn Book (Thu Apr 01 00:00:00 CST 1999)

Mitton describes nineteen of the animal constellations. Although the text does not always make clear where these can be found, star maps for both the Northern and the Southern Hemispheres are included on the endpapers. Vibrant illustrations with silver foil stars help the reader visualize the constellations. The last two pages give more information about stars and the night skies.

Kirkus Reviews

Two modern-day stargazers paint pictures in the sky based on the ancient stories surrounding the heavens. From the Great Bear to the Scorpion, Leo the Lion, and other animal constellations, Mitton offers poetic, abbreviated legends of the nighttime sky, while Balit's paintings, highlighted by shimmering silver stars, give visual meaning to the text. On the endpapers, star maps of both the northern and southern skies help readers locate the different configurations described in the body of the text. A brief explanation of stars, their placement in the sky, and the history of star patterns is included. (map) (Picture book. 5-10)

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 3-Mitton highlights the animals represented in the zodiac by superimposing shiny metallic stars to outline the constellations on colorful and lush paintings of the creatures. The effect is visually stunning, although the shape of the constellation is not always easily discerned against the visual activity of the background. Celestial maps on the endpapers provide clarifying references, however, and with a little study, the shapes in the paintings begin to emerge. This is an attractive introduction to astronomy, and can be used as an entree to disciplines such as mythology or folklore. In addition, the simple, poetic descriptions will capture the attention of preschoolers and early elementary-age children alike. A brief explanation of stars and constellations rounds out this lovely and unusual offering.-Donna L. Scanlon, Lancaster County Library, PA