Humans have created innumerable stories about the formations of the stars they glimpse overhead. In Star Stories: Constellations Tales from Around the World, prolific children's nonfiction author Anita Ganeri recounts in a straightforward, accessible style 23 star stories from different parts of the world. The detailed table of contents is divided by region, with the name of the story accompanied by its astral "inspiration." Western readers will find many of the tales familiar (such as the Ancient Greek stories of "The Golden Fleece--Aries" and "The White Winged Horse--Pegasus") while other myths, from North and South America, Africa, Asia and Oceania, are likely to be new discoveries.
With a look at the contents, young readers can choose specific topics to explore. For example, the Milky Way appears in "The Llama Star: An Incan Tale," "The Bridge of Magpies: A Tale from China," "The Canoe of Stars: A Maori Tale" and "Emu in the Sky: An Australian Aboriginal Tale." Each story begins with an introductory paragraph and a small illustration of the relevant constellation, a light-gray outline forming the shape, the stars shining in gold. Many stories include Andy Wilx's striking full-page illustrations; complex and shimmering in gold, silver and jewel-tones, his pieces incorporate symbols from various folkloric traditions.
Ganeri and Wilx's shared approach may encourage kids to think about the universal experiences of crafting stories to explain the celestial bodies and their movements. Glossy paper, a large format and golden stars scattered throughout make Star Stories an especially evocative gift for young star explorers. --Melinda Greenblatt, freelance book reviewer