Find the Constellations, Softcover

Very few people can tell one star from another but with Find the Constellation, it's not difficult to learn! From the author of Curious George comes to you an astronomy guidebook for beginners. Let illustrated characters take you on a journey through space, helping you find the constellations in either a winter or summer sky, facing north or south. This book contains 72 pages of constellation shapes, quizzes, constellation position, tips, and stories and lessons about planets and constellations. This updated planet-finder shows location of the planets through 2006! Grade level 2-5.

As a child in the early 1960s, I watched all the manned space missions on television and read lots of space adventure stories. I have always wished that I knew a little bit more about the heavens, and now, with the help of another homeschooler, I have found a way!

Lisa W. from Washington State wrote me a kind note (without knowing of my interest in space), saying, “I am enjoying your Charlotte Mason Companion so much and reading your family’s reviews in the CBD catalog. Thank you for your insights. I have begun a Nature Notebook with my children and want to bring to your attention a book I found to be wonderful. Find the Constellations by H.A. Rey gives such clear, concise information that I learned more about the stars and constellations in one hour than I had my entire life! This book will be handy for any clear night . . . his illustrations are clear and concise.”

I couldn’t agree with Lisa more! The book is great for beginners of all ages. The easy-to-digest format explains how to recognize specific stars and locate the constellations during each season. It even offers a timetable for best viewing throughout the year and shows the positions of the planets through the year 2006! 72 pages, softcover from Houghton Mifflin.

(H.A. Rey’s other book, The Stars, goes into even more detail about space, time, planets, distance, etc. for a little older age group, junior high to high school.)

One piece of advice: As long as your children are taught about the Creator of the heavens, their study of space should only strengthen their faith in him. To support this, let me share with you a personal story. Several years ago I was at a book convention and saw a familiar-looking man in a NASA uniform standing alone in a publisher’s booth. It was Jim Irwin, the man who had actually walked the lunar surface on the Apollo 15 mission! My admiration for him outweighed my timidity, so I boldly shook his hand and asked for an autograph. He wrote: “Dear Dean, Jesus walking on the Earth is more important than man walking on the moon. Jim.”

Keep looking up. —Dean

Average Rating:

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Reviewed by Michel Allain (State College, PA), November 29, 2008

This book really does deliver on its claim that it's not difficult to learn. Very easy to follow, not too much information presented at one time. My 4th grader (8-yo) was able to start applying her new-found knowledge of the night sky immediately. The only negative thing I can say about this book is that some constellations are given simple names, but their classical names aren't given. For example, the "Herdsman" is the name given for the constellation Bootes. I don't mind the kid-friendly names, but it would be nice if the classic names were provided as well. That was easy enough to remedy though - I just showed her some other star charts and included the classic names in the quizzes. It's not enough of a problem for me to rate this book less than 5 stars - I recommend it for anyone interested in learning about the constellations (Mom & Dad can learn, too!).

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