Once Upon a Starry Night

Once Upon a Starry Night: A Book of Constellations

By: Jacqueline Mitton

Illustrated by: Christina Balit

 

"It's the perfect night for telling a story...Look up, and what do you see? Not just stars, but a vast picture book." This book by Jacqueline Mitton describes many different constellations and the legends that go behind them. Each double page spread is a new constellation with a new engaging story. A great way to learn about the constellations and the legends (often mythology) behind them!

Before I explain why I love this book (which I most definitely do) I want to explain why I thought to review it. Last week, a friend and I were trying to relax by going to the Christmas village in Yankee Candle. I had had a particularly bad day so when I saw the "stars" in the ceiling and the bridge I finally gave into something I have been wanting to do for years; I laid down on the bridge to gaze up at the stars. My friend (whose day was just as awful) laid down next to me and we stared at the twinkling lights which are supposed to be the stars in the village. Eventually, a worker leaned over us. We both assumed we were going to be told to behave like proper adults, but instead she asked if we were looking at the constellations. Apparently, the sky in Yankee Candle here actually has constellations in it! Well, needless to say, we weren't looking at the constellations before, but we were after that. Unfortunately, we both realized something. We knew the Big Dipper and the Little one. I sort of knew Cassiopeia thanks to a very sweet romantic comedy Serendipity. But other than that, we were clueless. So, when I went to the library to pick out non-fiction books, I had to get one on astronomy. 

I couldn't have chosen better! I love this book. The illustrations are fantastic. The pictures are done with strong vivid colors, showing an illustration of the story with metallic stars laid over the picture to show the shape of the constellation. My favorite story was that of Andromeda and Perseus. In case you don't know, the legend was that Andromeda was King Cepheus's daughter who was sacrificed to stop a beast from attacking. While she was chained to rocks and waiting to die, Perseus came and rescued her from her fate and they were married. It's such a sweet, classic love story and it helps remind me of the constellations!