Zoo in the Sky was illustrated by Christina Balit, and that is one of the reasons that I recommend this book.  I own several books that Balit illustrated. She is a master of design in illustration.

Beyond that, I recommend this book because it introduces several of the constellations in the night sky. The constellations named in this book are as follows:

1. The Great Bear – The Constellation that Includes the North Star -Ursa Major
2. The Litte Bear – Ursa Minor
3. The Swan – Cygnus
4. The Fox – Vulpecula
5. The Scorpion – Scorpius
6. The Wolf – Lupus
7. Leo theLion
8. Taurus the Bull
9. The Great Dog – Canis Major and his star Sirius
10. Dorado – the Goldfish
11. The Flying Fish – Volans
12. The Whale – Cetus
13. The Peacock – Pavo
14. Apus – the Bird of Paradise
15. Tucana the Toucan
16. Grus the Crane
17. The Dragon – Draco

This book does not provide a great deal of information about each constellation, but I primarily bought it because it does tell the reader a bit about the constellation Ursa Major, which includes the Big Dipper, a group of stars that the slaves called the Drinking Gourd. The Great Bear points toward the North Star, and legend says that the slaves used the North Star to guide them toward the North–toward Freedom.

“The Great Bear quietly pads her way around the North Pole of the sky. Every day she makes the trip. Two bright stars across her back point straight to Polaris, the North Star.”

Performed by Richie Havens

Follow the Drinkin’ Gourd