4,4 stars

beautifully illustrated and informative. this is not a text book for an astronomy enthusiast, but a lovely recap of what people see, and have seen, in the 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!

Thank you to Blogging for Books and Ten Speed Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. ( )

“What We See in the Stars: An Illustrated Tour of the Night Sky“ 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 ( )

In high school, I was an excellent student in every subject that had to do with Languages, Literature, History and so on and so forth. Maths was the very bane of my existence, Physics and Chemistry were very effective sleeping methods and once or twice, I ‘’fell asleep’’ while I was awake, overlooking the schoolyard. There were two exceptions, though. Biology and Technology. I’ve always been fascinated by the perfect way in which every living organism functions and Technology was always full of projects and projects were a cause for a feast for me. Now, one day, our Technology professor gave us an assignment that I have kept to this day, some 15-odd years later. She told us to create a project about the field of Science we loved most and I chose Astronomy. Not to blow one’s trumpet, but it was a blast and one of the finest (and thankfully, there were many) moments in high school.

Who doesn’t love gazing at the night sky? Especially when we’re away from our light- polluted cities (you who live in rural areas know that you have my eternal admiration and envy…) and the sky above us appears darker, richer, intimidating, endless and eternal. Watching documentaries and reading about Space makes you feel humble, it makes you realise that you are tinier than tiny, a speck of dust in the mysterious universe. Books such as this one should be ideal for those who wish to start reading about the planets, the constellations and all the magic that happens right above our heads and little gems for those of us who have read extensively on the subject.

Kelsey Oseid has created a lovely book that succeeds in being both aesthetically beautiful and extremely informative. Full of impressive sketches coloured in celestial blue, white and gold, the mythological figures that gave their names to the planets and the constellations come alive. It provides information on the myths, the stories and the scientists that made the most significant discoveries and observations. The readers learn all about the wonderful world above our heads, from the zodiac to the dwarf planets in a language that is clear, simple, but not simplistic. I don’t think it is suitable for children since there are quite a few scientific references and technology, but the teenagers will have no issues with it if they are interested in this glorious infinity we call Space. It is a jewel for every bookcase and a wonderful addition to the books that aim in making certain fields of Science more approachable to the laymen.

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/ ( )