For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, it may seem a bit strange to think about spending evenings outdoors stargazing this time of year, that much I'll admit. But I also think that the night sky is sometimes the most noticeable during the winter months. Think about how very brilliant the stars can look on a clear, cold winter evening and you'll perhaps know what I'm getting at. Or, you can check out A Child's Introduction to the Night Sky in anticipation of the return of the summer months and the warm, stargazing nights they will bring. That's fair too.
A Child's Introduction to the Night Sky is like a non-fiction narrative and illustrated field guide rolled into one. It is perhaps best suited to older children as a book for reading, but the clear and colorful pictures will appeal to younger children who are interested in space, stars and sky as well. With detailed information about each of the planets, many constellations and the night sky throughout the seasons, this book is particularly good as a jumping off point for research when your child asks questions about the night sky and you need a reference book to answer them. I especially like that this book is written specifically for a younger audience. When she was very small, my daughter used to love to look through our own field guide to the night sky. The pictures were enjoyable, but reading her the text didn't do much in terms of helping her to understand what she was looking at. A book such as this one is the perfect solution to the challenges that sometimes arise when small people want to understand very big ideas. Like the universe.
So, this season, why not bundle up, pack a thermos of hot cocoa and head outdoors on a clear evening to see what you can see? We may just give it a go, even if we only manage a to stay out for a few minutes in this increasingly cold Vermont winter weather!
