The Glow-in-the-Dark Night Sky Book

by Clint Hatchett, Stephen Marchesi (Illustrator)

Illus. in full color. Turn off the lights and watch 34 constellations glow in the dark! This unique, convenient guide to the night sky has star maps that shine after exposure to light. The maps, arranged by season, cover constellations of the Northern Hemisphere. Instructions on how to use the book are included. An appendix explains the mythology behind each constellation.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Reference, Astronomy, Childrens, Picture Books, School

24 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

I only gave this two stars because it's not really a story. There is one page talking about this book and the rest are pictures of the constellations in the sky. It's nice for them to be laid on in a way you can really picture them in your mind. The book only does 4-5 at a time and by season too. If you want to learn your constellations, this is a great book to use for that.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one book that I made my husband have to deal with me while we were cleaning up since I wanted to see if it really did glow-in-the-dark (ours was a free library discovery). As a result we flipped off the light and used the flashlight to charge just as the book suggested while the star maps did come to life.

I must say that I am rather impressed with the book for it delivers on what it promises. There is a nice introduction that allows the reader to know what they will find in the pages, an explanation on how to use the book and how the maps are meant to be used. And since it is for children it won't be the most complete book out there but it is a great start.

Each section is broken down into two pages with the name of that particular seasonal timeframe as the chapter name. On the left hand side is the showing of the star map as the ancients imagined the characters to have appeared while on the opposite page is how the constellations actually appear in the sky to the reader.

The book also uses borders which focus on different parts of the universe so the first two pages have moon phases while these are then followed onto the Earth and sun then the rest of the planets plus other galaxy shapes. What a creative way to help young readers learn more about space without taking away the focus on this book itself.

There is a back index that allows the reader to have a brief introduction to some of the mythic origins of the names for these celestial bodies but it is not an in-depth one. I feel like there are plenty of other good books out there with the lore for the seeking reader such as with the much older The Heavenly Zoo: Legends & Tales of the Stars.

This is definitely going to be a keeper for my library and one that will be a fun activity for those bright starry nights when you just want to get out to explore the night sky.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a FANTASTIC book that I first used when I worked at SCICON Outdoor school, on the astronomy trail, at night. Using a flashlight, you can charge the pages so that the constellations glow! Then you talk about them and show the kids, in the dark, and help them locate the constellations in the sky...without having to lose your night vision, while you are outside, under the stars! (If you used a regular book, trying to show them what a constellation looks like you'd have their eyes going back and forth between light and dark trying to look at the book and look at the sky....doesn't work well at all.)

Very well drawn, and it tells you when to best see the constellations.

This book does not include stories, as it's only for use as a reference, to use to locate constellations in the sky. Though it does have a glossary at the back that gives very brief descriptions of each constellation.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun book for night sky viewing!
You can brighten the glow in the dark pages before you head out, or use a flashlight to make them glow as you look at the sky. It's great for finding your favorite constellations and stars. And for teaching kids about the night sky...

[Eric Stutzman · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave this 'book' two stars because there was a shockingly small amount of substance in this book. In its 24 pages, there was only one that went into any detail about any of the featured constellations, while the rest of the book was simply pictures of the constellations with an outline of their figures. In all, while not a *bad* book, this is the type of book that would barely suffice for a child with even a mild interest in the stars.

[Jessica Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me company through many scary nights when I was a child. I really enjoyed the glow-in-the-dark aspect.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book that comforted me as a child - reading the stars under the blanket.

[Shiv · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book in preschool when the teachers were emptying their shelves...little did I know it would set me up to continue loving astronomy to this day! I'm actually buying my friend a copy for her high school graduation to get her more into astronomy.

[Zachary · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mother gave me this book when I was about six years old and it set the wheels in motion for the path I am following now

[Don Gubler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful for recreating the night sky indoors or to take outdoors and help to find things.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book for those who love astronomy, or just like to star gaze.

[Chanelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another favorite from when I was a kid