Combining art, mythology, and science, What We See in the Stars gives readers a tour of the night sky through more than 100 magical pieces of original art, all accompanied by text that weaves related legends and lore with scientific facts. This beautifully packaged book covers the night sky's most brilliant features--such as the constellations, the moon, the bright stars, and the visible planets--as well as less familiar celestial phenomena like the outer planets, nebulae, and deep space. Adults seeking to recapture the magic of youthful stargazing, younger readers interested in learning about natural history and outer space, and those who appreciate beautiful, hand-painted art will all delight in this charming book.
Reviews (92)
Beautifully illustrated book for a complete beginner
3.5 Stars. This is a beautifully illustrated book and you can tell a lot of time went into the art/design of this book. This book offers a good,brief general overview of the constellations and planets and would make a great gift for someone who's interested in learning a bit more about the sky, but If youre looking for a deep dive into the science and mythology of the constellations this book isn't it. I'd reccomend this book for a complete beginner who is interested in learning basics about the constellations and planets. I wouldn't reccomend this book for someone who really wants a deep dive into the mythology and constellations. If you are looking
Great Book About the Stars
My husband and I went to an astrology adventure on a trip to Santa Fe a month ago. It was so interesting decided to learn more about the stars, etc. This book is exceptional. I never knew there was so much to see and enjoy in the sky. I am heading to the planetarium next. This book was very interesting had great pictures and identifiers. Really am enjoying it.
Beautiful, well put together book
Beautiful book with wonderful illustrations and information. The cover title has a metallic holographic shine to it (added a little video that hopefully shows this off) and is pretty in person. I got it for my 9 year old who loves art and facts and science and is currently into stars/planets/constellations. Would be great book to accompany a microscope or to gift with some type of planetarium/museum membership. A good gift for any age or gender, really.
A MUST HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE SKY!
I would recommend this book for people who want to know more about stars, planets, and almost everything about the skies! It's new as well, it highlights some stars that are about to die. The illustrations are something else! I'm so in love that I think I can't get over it to other Astronomy books!
Beautiful book! It is full of information and has ...
Beautiful book! It is full of information and has gorgeous illustrations in a unique style. This book would also be great to read to a kid who is interested in stars, space, or mythology.
Beautiful and packed with details
This book is so beautiful. I bought it because I love the style of the artwork and was surprised by how much information is packed into the pages. It's so much more than what I expected!
A Gorgeous Book
This is a stunner of a book and I'm so glad I purchased! Weaving detailed information with gorgeous illustrations, I'm tempted to buy more as gifts! It's already sitting out on our coffee table and has been picked up/complimented by a number of guests!
Great
I gave this to my friends who live in a small ranching town in a very remote place in western Utah (where you can still see the stars) and they read this to their children and they love it!
One of those books you could keep for years and still find exciting/beautiful
Extremely beautiful artwork and great, simple explanations of interesting and complicated astro topics. It's a real joy to read and we can't wait to give copies as gifts to our friends. Get the hard copy!
This is a beautiful book. My plan was to use it as ...
This is a beautiful book. My plan was to use it as a reference for a project that I have in the works and I'm sure it will work just fine. I will spend way more reading this than I originally thought. Nice Job to the Author!
Beautifully illustrated book for a complete beginner
3.5 Stars. This is a beautifully illustrated book and you can tell a lot of time went into the art/design of this book. This book offers a good,brief general overview of the constellations and planets and would make a great gift for someone who's interested in learning a bit more about the sky, but If youre looking for a deep dive into the science and mythology of the constellations this book isn't it. I'd reccomend this book for a complete beginner who is interested in learning basics about the constellations and planets. I wouldn't reccomend this book for someone who really wants a deep dive into the mythology and constellations. If you are looking
Great Book About the Stars
My husband and I went to an astrology adventure on a trip to Santa Fe a month ago. It was so interesting decided to learn more about the stars, etc. This book is exceptional. I never knew there was so much to see and enjoy in the sky. I am heading to the planetarium next. This book was very interesting had great pictures and identifiers. Really am enjoying it.
Beautiful, well put together book
Beautiful book with wonderful illustrations and information. The cover title has a metallic holographic shine to it (added a little video that hopefully shows this off) and is pretty in person. I got it for my 9 year old who loves art and facts and science and is currently into stars/planets/constellations. Would be great book to accompany a microscope or to gift with some type of planetarium/museum membership. A good gift for any age or gender, really.
A MUST HAVE FOR PEOPLE WHO LOVE THE SKY!
I would recommend this book for people who want to know more about stars, planets, and almost everything about the skies! It's new as well, it highlights some stars that are about to die. The illustrations are something else! I'm so in love that I think I can't get over it to other Astronomy books!
Beautiful book! It is full of information and has ...
Beautiful book! It is full of information and has gorgeous illustrations in a unique style. This book would also be great to read to a kid who is interested in stars, space, or mythology.
Beautiful and packed with details
This book is so beautiful. I bought it because I love the style of the artwork and was surprised by how much information is packed into the pages. It's so much more than what I expected!
A Gorgeous Book
This is a stunner of a book and I'm so glad I purchased! Weaving detailed information with gorgeous illustrations, I'm tempted to buy more as gifts! It's already sitting out on our coffee table and has been picked up/complimented by a number of guests!
Great
I gave this to my friends who live in a small ranching town in a very remote place in western Utah (where you can still see the stars) and they read this to their children and they love it!
One of those books you could keep for years and still find exciting/beautiful
Extremely beautiful artwork and great, simple explanations of interesting and complicated astro topics. It's a real joy to read and we can't wait to give copies as gifts to our friends. Get the hard copy!
This is a beautiful book. My plan was to use it as ...
This is a beautiful book. My plan was to use it as a reference for a project that I have in the works and I'm sure it will work just fine. I will spend way more reading this than I originally thought. Nice Job to the Author!
Great gift item
Bought this book as a gift, it is a nice sturdy hardback. It seems a little “childish” but it is actually a great beginners book for all ages. The book does not over complicate the subject, it is a very general story overview of the constellations, planets, etc., great book for background information.
Total Winner
If you have children that are interested in stars, planets, the Milky Way, they will love this book and you will love sharing it with them. It's a book to be savored over the years and can appeal to kids who want to know a little to those kids who want more. I would give it 10 stars if I could.
BEAUTIFUL BOOK
This book is the most beautiful piece of work I own. I cannot stress this enough. Each page holds so much beauty and well put together information that you can’t help but keep reading. I already began looking for my next Kelsey Oseid book!!!
Awesom
Very interesting lots of. 😊 easy read and understandable. Love the pictures makes it easy to understand. Glad I got it
The Perfect Companion to any Telescope!
This is a fantastic book that will surely appeal to anyone who enjoys looking up at all of the wonders in the night sky. From its attractive cover to the incredible illustrations and detailed information inside, this hard cover publication will keep you reaching for it time and time again. And the best part... This book is geared for all ages!
Good book
Got it as a gift for my friend but she loves it great book! I wanted to keep it for myself.
Informative
Very informational for adults & children
Im happy with it
Solid book made fun for kids
Very nice
Got it for my husband and he loved it and I do too!
Awesome!!
So easy for those of us who wish we had more time in a day Ans want to read more and learn more.
Beautiful artwork
A wonderful gift for artists, scientists, story lovers, children, adults, cats and dogs.... ANYONE would love this gorgeous book.
Beautiful.
The illustrations are gorgeous, and the book is both captivating and informative. I got it for my son for Christmas to read him a couple pages a night before bed and so far he’s loved it.
So Pretty
It’s sooo pretty 😍 10/10 would recommend. I’m so excited to read it!!
Amazing
So interesting! Kept my kids and I occupied for hours and we keep going back for more! The illustrations are great and there is just so much info in one place you'd never find anywhere else!
Good message
Beautiful illustrations and a very nice message
Wonderful Book
Beautiful artwork. Short, concise stories. Lovely book.
Great book for astrology methodology!
Love the stories!
Gorgeous pictures with easy-to-digest information
Gorgeous pictures. Easy-to-digest information. I've bought this a presents for so many of the friends of my 4th and 2nd graders.
Nice book
Nice book- good info
History
Good
Perfect book for my quilting
Perfect book for my quilting efforts highlighting the night sky and specific constellations
Inspirational
It even featured one of my favorites, The Phoenix, who serves under the Modern Category! Very vibrant codex so far
As described
Heavy, nice book. Think my daughter will love it! (Christmas present)
Great find for the star-gazer in your life...
This is a beautifully illustrated book for anyone who wants to learn some astronomy. It will show you how to recognize certain constellations, as well as well as the stories that go with them.
Awesome!
Absolutely beautiful👍 Good info I hadn’t learned before and even Greek mythology intertwined throughout! Such sweet illustrations too.
Beautiful!
BEAUTIFUL book! I can’t wait to give it as a gift, and I may just order a copy for myself. It’s gorgeous!
Nice
8 year old likes reading it.
Cute!
Cute coffee table book!
Perfect gift
Gift that was loved.
Great purchase
Beautiful book, came in great condition. Would definitely order again.
My daughter love this bookGood book
My daughter love this book
Amazing
My daughter loves this!!
A beautiful book of the solar system
We really enjoyed this book. The illustrations are amazing. The stories of the constellations and planets are engaging and informative.
Five Stars
I absolutely loved this book! Beautiful illustrations, interesting facts, and a great read no matter your age.
Phenomenal book!
The whole time I was reading this I felt like I was in a planetarium. This is a phenomenal book- has high quality pages and the front even has sparkly constellations on it. Well-written and illustrated! There's more than just the constellations too!
Very nice!
Beautiful book! Great purchase!
So much info!
Beautiful pictures and informative
Beautiful book!!!
Beautiful book!!!!
FIVE Stars for "What we see in the Stars"!
Love this book. The artwork is also cool.
Five Stars
Love this book
A Fantastic Book!
I bought this book for my son, but I wound up reading it myself. The illustrations are beautifully done, and the writing was outstanding. I have always loved looking at the night sky, but this book gave me a whole new appreciation for it!
Good looking solid book
Beautiful book
Love it!
Beautiful book, love the shape, the art, the information. Makes a great gift for a constellation lover or someone who just enjoys great art.
Amazing book
Beautiful book would 100% recommend
Pretty book and cover, needs work on engaging story-telling
Loved the illustrations, text became a little redundant in describing the different constellations. Could be improved.
Amazing book
Purchased as a gift for my uncle who has always loved astronomy. I was reluctant because I didnt want to get him a 'kids' book. I jumped for it and so happy. It is so much thicker than I thought it would be. And like others say the layout and illustration is beautiful. A great book to refer to. Can't wait for him to open it! Took the cover photo in the sun to see the awesome effect on the hard cover. UPDATE: gift was received very well. Very pleased !
Beyond the constellations...
Oseid’s work is comprehensive in scope, but simple in format. In her introduction to the constellations, she provides a general overview of constellations and their relation to humans throughout history. For instance, most of the constellations’ names are mythologically based because Ptolemy (the second century philosopher who named them) was Greco-Egyptian. And did you know that what we consider constellations are actually asterisms? And that Islamic scholars named stars during the medieval period, which was also the “Islamic Golden Age”? Oseid also places key terms in bold type, making it easy for readers to locate definitions that they want to reread later. Each of the ancient constellations receives a full-page layout, which includes a description of its placement in the cosmos and other interesting pieces of trivia. Aquila, for instance, crops up numerous times as an eagle in Greek mythology; it is also one of the stars closest to Earth. Pegasus, on the other hand, represents the seventh largest constellation. And Libra contains “a potentially habitable exoplanet.” Celestial illustrations accompany the text, which is generally limited to two paragraphs. Halfway through the book, Oseid introduces readers to the modern constellations, which number thirty-eight in total. These star formations are divided into three sections: those named after tools, those named after animals, and those named after miscellaneous items. The illustrations for these constellations are smaller and appear two, three, or four to a page, with a succinct description to accompany each name. Moving beyond the stars, Oseid then discusses the sun, moon, planets and more! What We See in the Stars is a physically attractive book. The cover features illustrations of the constellations—colored in shades of blue—with metallic dots set among them to trace the stars’ actual pattern. The book’s dimensions (approximately eight inches by eight inches) lend to easy handling. Thanks to the hardcover format and the pages woven into the spine, it should withstand years of use. The contents of this book exceed expectation. The cover/title suggests that the book is just about the constellations. However, Oseid also explores the moon (including a two-page spread showing its phases, the sun and its eclipses, the planets (each with its own full-page illustration), and other phenomena such as comets. In addition to exploring the nighttime sky, Oseid’s book doubles as a general overview of Greek mythology. Highly recommended. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books, in exchange for an honest review.
We love keeping track of the latest full moon and it's ...
My little homeschool clan is fairly obsessed with the moon and all of it's observable phases. We love keeping track of the latest full moon and it's subsequent waning and waxing. Last year could have been titled the "year of the moon" for our schoolroom at home. Now, I am thinking its time to broaden our observation of the night time sky and get to know some of the surrounding constellations as well. I bought my Oldest a telescope for Christmas, to give us a fun jumping off place, and knew there had to be a good "book for that" to go along with it! And find one, I did! What we see in the stars: An illustrated tour of the night sky is a gorgeous introduction to star gazing that I can't wait to jump into with my boys! It is a visual treat that is Mama swoon worthy, but the information is approachable for kids. There is a great bit of introduction info on the science and study of space and the stars before diving into an extensive collection of constellations. I appreciated that there is a page for each major constellation- containing a beautiful illustration and a paragraph of pertinent facts.There are quite a few lesser known constellations introduced as well. There is also a detailed account of the planets. I would highly recommend this book as an addition to homeschool libraries and to anyone captivated by the beauty of the stars. Thanks to Blogging for Books for providing me with this gorgeous book to review.
as well as less familiar celestial phenomena like the outer planets
What We See in the Stars: An Illustrated Tour of the Night Sky by Kelsey Oseid is an illustrated guide to the myths, histories, and science of the celestial bodies of our solar system, with stories and information about constellations, planets, comets, the northern lights, and more. It includes more than 100 magical pieces of original art, all accompanied by text that shares both related legends, lore, and scientific facts. This book covers the constellations, the moon, the bright stars, and the visible planets, as well as less familiar celestial phenomena like the outer planets, nebulae, and deep space. Adults seeking to recapture the magic of youthful stargazing, younger readers interested in learning about natural history and outer space, and those who appreciate beautiful, hand-painted art will all delight in this charming book. What We See in the Stars: An Illustrated Tour of the Night Sky is a beautiful and informative read. I found it to be well organized, accessible, and interesting to read. I have always been fascinated by the sky, I was one of those kids that wanted to be an astronaut, until I discovered how much math and engineering was involved in the process. In fact, I was in the astronomy club in high school and loved every minute of it. I still read about and study the sky when I can. I like that this book features both the science and the related legends and history that make astronomy so fascinating to me. The science is well worded and organized, and not lacking in any way when combined with the other included information. The hand painted artwork only adds to the wonder this book inspires. What a great book for anyone with interest in the night sky and all the science, myth, and legend that can be found there. What We See in the Stars: An Illustrated Tour of the Night Sky is a wonderful read, and one that I might add to my library. My only issues were with the digital galley, which has no bearing on the final product but reduced my ability to fully enjoy the combination of stunning artwork and the text.
Charming and Beautiful
I really enjoyed this book, and the pages and artwork are so beautiful, that it would make a lovely coffee-table book or just an addition to any bookshelf. In many ways, this reminded me of some of the Usborne books that I read as a kid--small tomes about the ocean or the human body or memory skills. The information is presented incredibly simply, but is interesting enough that anybody from a child to an adult could read, understand, and enjoy it. There is also a wide range of topics covered from constellations, to our solar system, to other aspects of the universe. The artwork and dark-colored pages (many are painted with a beautiful midnight blue starry background) suit the topic well, and give you some of the same awe that you experience when you look at the night sky: human-made beauty representing nature's own. The book is informative enough to feel like you really get a good overview of the different topics, while also whetting your appetite to learn more. I think it would be a fabulous addition to any coffee table or library and is everything I had hoped it would be. Oseid has really done a lovely job with this one, and I'd love to see more of her books in the future. Simply charming, and I love that everything from the fonts to the covers to the text fits together seamlessly. Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for this review, though it did not affect the content of my review in any way.
Beautiful book
As usual, my five point review: I requested this book to review because my husband loves mythology and science, and I thought it would be fun to look at together... and equally enjoyable for him to be able to take to use in his classroom at school. He teaches eighth grade science, and this book is just perfect! When you open it up, it's immediately obvious that it's a very high quality book. The artwork is gorgeous, the paper is thick, and it just feels nice in your hands, almost like a gift book. The book is well organized, with chapters dedicated to various constellations, the Milky Way, the moon, the sun, the planets, asteroids, and deep space. The organization makes sense, especially for science-focused readers. It is so comprehensive, yet very manageable. I appreciated the layout of the book--a good mix of text and (beautiful) images. The author, Kelsey Oseid, seamlessly integrated history, science, and mythology in an approachable fashion. Sometimes discussions of mythology can seem outdated with science and present-day knowledge, but it did not appear that way in this book which was awesome. Oseid's writing and content was approachable for a variety of ages and knowledge levels. Reading this book made me reminisce about Star Lab in my fourth grade classroom--the first time science was really interesting to me. I think this book would be great for kids interested in any of the subjects mentioned in this book (mythology, science, and history), especially if they want to learn more about another field. Younger kids may need help understanding some of the words and concepts, but it's accessible for middle school and up. Whether you're looking for an actually interesting coffee table book that your guests will want to flip through, a gift for a young scientist, a book to use alongside homeschool curriculum, or just an accessible book about the stars (and so much more), give this book a shot! I know you'll like it too. Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Blogging for Books. However, I was not required to write a positive review. The thoughts expressed above are entirely my own. Thanks to Blogging for Books for the chance to read this book!
Great for reading with your kids. Beautiful and educational
This is a very enjoyable book for adults and kids alike that will take you on a journey across the night sky. It introduces the reader to the constellations, milky way, our solar system and other celestial phenomena with clear explanations about their behavior, interactions and mythological references. Explanations are short and sweet, just enough science to understand what we are talking about without dwelling too deep into it. Instead, it focuses on old stories and the mythology that surrounds most things in space, which is something that kids, me and anyone else opting for the romantic side of space are more interested about. The simply explained terms, phenomena and mythological references make it a great choice as a first approach to astronomy for kids. It succeeds to keep the reader engaged instead of overwhelmed. The more than 100 illustrations are also informative and can be enough for keeping the attention of very young children while older ones can also learn from the explanations. I can see this book as one of those you get as a kid but continue enjoying over the years. I got my eARC from NetGalley
An Illustrated Tour of the Night Sky by Kelsey Oseid is a fun introduction to astronomy for anyone who loves space
What We See in the Stars: An Illustrated Tour of the Night Sky by Kelsey Oseid is a fun introduction to astronomy for anyone who loves space. Featuring the myths, history, and science behind the solar system, the author includes "stories and information about constellations, planets, comets, the northern lights, and more." The vivid artwork, combined with facts about the night sky, is beautifully presented and will especially appeal to young readers. The color scheme of dark blues and the fun fonts add to the magical quality of What We See in the Stars. A Feast for the Imagination This gorgeous book is fun to read on its own or to utilize as a supplement to a science curriculum to make astronomy more meaningful for young readers. Elementary through middle school learners will love perusing this book, but even adults will find it mesmerizing: "Galileo was the first to discover Jupiter's largest moons, now referred to as the Galilean moons. These four of Jupiter's sixty-seven moons take their names from figures subjected to Zeus's cruelty: Callisto, Europa, Ganymede, and Io. Europa is regarded as one of the most important bodies in our solar system--it's considered a top candidate for scientific exploration and thought to be one of the places where alien life could exist" (p. 127). This richly illustrated guide includes chapters on: the constellations the Milky Way the moon the sun the planets asteroids, comets, & meteors deep space The way the information is organized in What We See in the Stars makes it a great teaching tool. With captions, lists, important words in bold, short chapters, and an index, it is easy to find the facts you need for a science, mythology, or history lesson. The publisher provided a review copy of What We See in the Stars.
What We See In The Stars
What We See In The Stars is a wonderful book with a lot of good information laid out in an easy to read format, great for a beginner astronomer or someone who has taken an interest in astronomy. Laid out in successive sections, the importance of astronomy and our understanding of the stars in laid out and written in common language accompanied by wonderful artistry. The stars are outlined in their importance in history, mythology, culture and science as well as our understanding of what lies beyond. Through reading, I developed an understanding of how we see space from the Earth and how this has developed over time. I was surprised to learn that the Islamic people were among the first to name the stars and their names have been Latinized over time. I loved looking through Ptolemy's Constellations and learning their stories along with the stars that make them up and how they fit in with Greek mythology. The modern constellations added many constellations that I had no idea were recognized, such as the microscope, the telescope and the giraffe. The section of our own galaxy, the milky way was intriguing. There are beautiful depictions of the moon, it's phases, geologic features and seasonal names. This section also discusses the sun, seasons, eclipses and goes into detail about each planet. A gorgeous book that encouraged me to get outside at night and look up to see what can be discovered. Received from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.
Beautiful Tour of the Night Sky
Kids that like outer space, astronomy, stars, and constellations will love exploring the night sky with What We See in the Stars by Kelsey Oseid. My kids and I enjoyed several things about this book. It's Beautifully Illustrated. I'm a sucker for pretty art and the illustrations in this book are gorgeous. And it's illustrated all the way through. It's not just a picture here and there. Every page has art on it, which makes the book more engaging and visually pleasing. It's Informative. While it IS beautiful, that's not all it has to offer. What We See in the Stars is full of fascinating facts, information, and history behind the night sky. Learn everything from constellations and history to planets and phases of the moon. There's even a section about comets and meteors. A large portion of the book is dedicated to constellations, facts about them, and the stories behind them. It's Interesting. Nonfiction books have progressed in leaps and bounds in recent years, and this is a great example of that progress. Just because it's informative doesn't mean it has to be boring. Kids (and adults) that are interested in the night sky will easily find themselves engrossed in this book. It's easy to peruse, but it's also easy to get lost in.
A Good Basic Introduction
As a former Earth Science Teacher and one who still goes out at night periodically to gaze at the night sky and look for constellations and meteor showers I found this book to be an excellent basic source. The author presents the information in clear easy to understand language including an overview of the story of each of the original constellations along with the location of the brightest star in each. The illustrations are very good and point out that ancient star gazers had to have had vivid imaginations. I recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a basic refresher or for someone just starting out to comptemplate the night time sky. I received a free of What We See in the Stars by Kelsey Oseid courtesy of Blogging for Books and Ten Speed Press, the publisher. It was with the understanding that I would post a review to Blogging for Books, Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and my nonfiction book review blog. I also posted it to my Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Google Plus pages.
Stunning Illustrations
What We Read in the Stars is an astronomer lover’s delight. From constellations, planets, to deep space, this book touches on several space-related topics and follows it up with stunning illustrations. Even if you have no interest in astronomy, this book is serious eye candy. The illustrations are beautiful and mesmerizing. I enjoyed reading about the different topics and then ogling over the corresponding illustrations. The information in this book is great, though high level. This is more of a coffee table book, not a deep dive into the ins and outs of outer space. My favorite section is the constellations. I would have never associated some of the star patterns with what they’re named for. Former star gazers and scientists have great imaginations! I would absolutely recommend this book to others. More than anything, I think this book would make a great gift, suitable for older kids through adults. I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.
BEAUTIFUL
This book is BEAUTIFUL! I had intended to give it to a friend, but I just can’t part with it now. It’s a wealth of information stated with great simplicity. Hardback, with a gorgeous cover, small enough to keep as reference in a backpack but beautiful enough to leave on the coffee table. It’s a wonderful balance of science and lore. Covering everything from aurorae to the zodiac to our solar system to deep space exploration, it presents the basics in an easy to read format alongside beautiful artwork. Anyone can look up telescopic photos of planets online, it is a rarity to find such gorgeous artistic representation. I’m definitely going to keep coming back to this book again and again and I’m sure my kids will also share my love for it. I received this book courtesy of Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest review.
What We See in the Stars
What We See in the Stars by Kelsey Oseid is a free NetGalley ebook that I read in late September. How convenient that I've recently happened upon a telescope! This book contains Nordic sketchy Pointilist drawings alongside facts about astronomy (de Lacaille's tool-based constellations!) galaxy (a 'waxing' and 'waning' moon makes a little bit more sense now), and outer solar system (nebulas and two Pioneer crafts sent into deep space that carry engraved golden plaques). It all really instills a sense of wonder and awe, yet speaks at an approachable, contemplative level.
The cover is richly illustrated with beautifully drawn constellations and specs of shimmery stars
What We See in the Stars took me by surprise. Because I had not seen this book in person before its arrival on my doorstep, I really didn’t know what to expect. Let me tell you this… What We See in the Stars is a gorgeous book. The cover is richly illustrated with beautifully drawn constellations and specs of shimmery stars. It is heavy, it has a lot of content, and as I flipped through the pages, I knew I was in for a treat! Go ahead… judge this book by its cover. Admittedly, I am not a space buff but my husband is. But I could be! What We See in the Stars is the perfect introduction to so many elements of space and is written in such a way that genuinely piqued my interest. I could really get into this! And while there is a lot of content in these pages, it doesn’t get dry or boring. Meaning – there isn’t so much detail that it reads like some type of advanced Science book. What We See in the Stars is art and intro with a bang! You’ll get a lot more out of What We See in the Stars than just the basics. Divided up into beautifully illustrated segments, the reader is taken on a journey through: the Constellations, the Milky Way, the Moon, the Sun, the Planets, Asteroids, Comets & Meteors, and Deep Space. And within each of these segments (chapters), Kelsey Oseid takes the reader down finer, more detailed paths – explaining and illustrating just how majestic our night’s sky truly is. What We See in the Stars is the perfect gift for anyone who may have an interest in space or even just art. Young people, older people – this book is really for anyone. I even plan to share this one with my kiddo!
Oseid's brief Encyclopedia of the Universe.
I received this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I am in lovvveeeeee with this book! It's so easy to read and Kelsey Oseid really does a fantastic job of describing in interesting detail everything that exist in the Universe. From the Constellations, to our galaxy, to the Sun and the Moon, and even space debris and whether there could be other life out there. The book designer Betsy Stromberg also does a stellar job depicting all of these galactic objects. Whether a child or an adult, this book has information that is beneficial to all who are starting their first adventure into the unknown. I definitely want to add this book to my physical library.
Beautiful Book!
I think this lovely book would make an excellent gift and I can imagine a wide range of people enjoying it from grade-schoolers up to adults. I love the beautiful illustrations and the way the constellations we would see in the sky is super-imposed on a painting of that figure to help the imagination recognize the constellation as the object, creature, God, or Goddess it is meant to represent. I also enjoyed the stories behind the naming of the constellations. The book is well organized and moves through the constellations, milky way, moon, sun, planets & then items and places deeper in space, starting closest to home and moving outward. The information isn't written in a technical way, but the author doesn't talk down to the reader either, including Latin names and real scientific explanations (albeit simplified for this shorter work). I can imagine this book whetting the appetite of a young astronomer who can go on to read more in depth on the topics introduced in this little gem.
Impressive!
I was surprisingly pleased with What We See in the Stars. Based on the cover, I was expecting a book geared more toward younger people, but once I opened up the book and started reading, I was roped right in. That cover! It's beautiful with the shades of blue and sparkling silver. The illustrations throughout the book are just as wonderful and help paint a picture of what these shining lights in the sky represented to so many. The book does a good job of briefly describing constellations and the parts of the solar system. My only disappointment was that there's no real guide of how to see these constellations in person. I thought this book was going to be a guide of sorts, but it's more of a history lesson. Overall though, I liked this book a lot and highly recommend it for those who are fascinated with the night sky.
This book is a pretty hardcovered book
Are you looking for a gift for someone who is interested in the nght sky? You might want to pick up a copy of this book, What We See in the Stars by Kelsey Oseid. This book is a pretty hardcovered book, full of illustrations which will walk the reader through the different entities in the night sky. You will be introduced to constellations (thank you Ptolemy!) and the nice illustrations will help you to visualize what the ancient namers were thinking when they gave certain clusters of stars the names that they did (for instance, did you ever wonder why that "M" or "W" shape is given the name Cassiopeia? Check out page 36 and you'll be able to read the information about the name (and the associated Greek myth), as well as learning information about some of the elements of the constellation. There is a whole section about "modern" constellations -- which are still in use in the modern constellation naming system. I got a kick out of some of these... Antilla--the air pump (a pneumatic pump or bellows), Microscopium--the microscope, and more. Did you ever hear of the constellation Chamaeleon? (sticking its tongue out to catch its neighboring constelation Musca, the fly!) Very interesting! After reading about the constellations, you may then read the sections about the galaxy, the moon, the sun, the planets, and deep space. There are lots of topics covered in a very visually attractive way--the illustrator did a great job to keep the reader engaged. I love seeing shooting stars, so I enjoyed the section on meteor showers, including a listing of when the most notable meteor showers annually occur. Would I recommend this book? Yes, I think it would go nicely with a homeschooling family who is studying astronomy. . .and I think it would make a nice gift for a child or an adult who is interested in learning more about what is in the sky above us. I will say that this is not written from a religious or creationist viewpoint, just saying. This would not stop me from recommending it, though. You may view an exerpt from the book here on their website. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Beautiful and informative
This book is beautiful! The artwork combined with the simple but informative text make this a great book for picking up and flipping through when you want something quick and lovely to read and look at. Perfect for displaying on your bookshelf or coffee table.
super book...
I love this book & it is good for all ages!
Beautiful Book
This is such a beautiful book, it's really interesting, the illustrations are beautiful, it's the perfect coffee table book, it sounds a bit odd but it's a very cosy book for winter too with the dark pages and pale blue and silver illustrations. I also quite like that although it's an introductory book, there's lots of details so can teach even a seasoned astronomer a thing or two. This would make a really great gift for young or old to teach them all about the stars and the night sky.
Beautiful for kids and adults
Lovely book - I didn’t expect it to be so small tho (a5) but that doesn’t hinder it
Beautiful Book
Beautiful images and design. Informative and inspiring, I’ve been out gazing at the stars looking for the constellations I found in this book; many I didn’t know existed before. Lovely item! Thank you
Fantastic
Fantastic book. This book is beautifully written and the illustrations make it even more magical. Both me and my 9 year old son love it.
Good basic introduction
Bought as a present for an intelligent 11-year-old interested in astronomy. My impression from a quick flip-through was that this was an attractively illustrated and clearly presented introduction to the subject, as I had hoped. The recipient liked it.
Beautiful
Lovely book, beautiful illustrations. Great to show youngsters and dreamers....