Animals in the Sky Perfect Picture Book Friday

A delightful board book introducing various constellations to the youngest learners.

text and illustrations copyright Sara Gillingham, 2020, Phaidon Press

I love picture books that are simply written, brimming with information, and radiating with beautiful illustrations. In just a few foldout pages, this informative board book challenges readers to solve riddles, predict the animal that awaits discovery, and learn a little more about our galaxy's constellations.  Young learners will love answering the questions, guessing the animals, and maybe even heading outdoors to locate a few constellations in the sky!

This  book is both captivating and educational. Little hands can trace the stars, unfold the pages, and point to the creatures hidden in the lovely illustrations. The author doesn't just share the information, she challenges young readers to think, solve, and predict, making this book perfect for classroom, library, and at-home learning. 

Title:  ANIMALS IN THE SKY

Author and Illustrator:  Sara Gillingham

Publisher:  Phaidon Press, 2020

Ages:  2-4 

​Themes:  Astronomy, Constellations, Animals, Prediction and Inference 

Here are a few activities that align with the themes of this book:

• Go out at night and try to identify one of the constellations you learned about in this book. Were you able to find one? If so, which one did you see? Draw a picture of it.
• Create your favorite constellation using black or navy construction paper, gold star stickers, and chalk. For detailed instructions, check out this website.
• Choose a constellation in this book and make a constellation box using a shoebox and a flashlight. For detailed instructions, check out this website.
• With the help of a care-giver, purchase glow-in-the-dark stars. Identify the constellations you'd like to recreate, and consider placing them on the ceiling of a bedroom or playroom. 
• Conversation starters:  "Which constellation is your favorite? Why?" "If you were a constellation, which one would you be? Why?" 

Looking for more perfect picture books? Check out Susanna Leonard Hill's website!