In this entry in the Night Sky Stories series, Peg Leg Joe travels from plantation to plantation, singing a song with special significance to the slaves working the fields ("When the sun comes back, And the first quail calls, Follow the drinking gourd"). If the slaves listen carefully, the words provide a "map to freedom." The song, interspersed with the story of Peg Leg Joe, is brief and repeated throughout, making for a good read-aloud and sing-along. Squier's digitally created illustrations are eye-catching and saturated with color, often depicting the faces of Joe and the slaves illuminated by a nighttime fire. Although there is an extremely brief and simple glossary, suggested further reading and websites offer kids the opportunity to learn more on the subject of the Underground Railroad. An introduction to the book also touches on the subject and explains that "Follow the Drinking Gourd" is an American folk song.

MEISTER, Cari . The Story of Ursa Major and Ursa Minor: A Roman Constellation Myth . illus. by Gerald Guerlais. ISBN 978-1-4048-7374-2 ; ISBN 978-1-4048-7720-7 . LC 2012001008. TROUPE, Thomas Kingsley , retel. The Story of Cassiopeia: A Roman Constellation Myth . illus. by Robert Squier. ISBN 978-1-4048-7376-6 ; ISBN 978-1-4048-7716-0 . LC 2012001247. TROUPE, Thomas Kingsley . The Story of Orion: A Roman Constellation Myth . illus. by Gerald Guerlais. ISBN 978-1-4048-7377-3 ; ISBN 978-1-4048-7718-4 . LC 2012001006. ea vol: 24p. (Night Sky Stories Series). further reading. glossary. websites. CIP. Picture Window . 2012. PLB $25.99; pap. $7.95. K4 A strong choice for classroom read-alouds or lap-reading, this series has a perfect text-to-image balance. Three of the books are based on Roman mythology, with the fourth telling a legend of the Underground Railroad. The eye-catching artwork is consistent in style and tone, giving a uniform feeling to the set while still allowing the illustrators to showcase their talents. While the Roman names may give independent readers pause, the vocabulary is well-tailored to the age level. "Learn More" sections at the end of every volume provide more information. For example, in Orion readers learn that "In Hindu myth, Orion's constellation is actually the god Prajapati, who became a deer."