ASTROLOGICA: An Encyclopedia of Myths and Legends From the Planets, Stars and Skies

ASTROLOGICA: An Encyclopedia of Myths and Legends From the Planets, Stars and Skies
SUKI FERGUSON (illus. Camelia Pham)
Wide Eyed Editions (non-affiliate Bookshop.org link)
$30.00 all editions, available now

Rating: 4* of five

The Publisher Says: Astrologica is a visually stunning illustrated guide to the stories behind zodiac signs and systems from around the world.

Big, bold, and beautiful, this is the enthralling celestial follow-up to Mythologica: Amazon's No. 1 Children's Non-Fiction Book of the Year 2019.

How did the moon influence mighty emperors in Ancient China? Why are star signs so popular around the world? How did constellations help early seafarers sail safely across the vast Pacific? Blending science and storytelling, Astrologica introduces you to the marvels of our cosmos like you’ve never seen them before.

This gorgeously illustrated book is designed to introduce young stargazers to the celestial. Across the magical chapters, you'll learn about the antics of ancient gods, indigenous traditions, and scientific breakthroughs. You’ll delve into zodiac lore as you journey around the globe, from Mali to Hawai’i, Norway, and Australia. You’ll also travel through time, visiting early civilisations and empires to learn about the dawn of storytelling itself—and that's just the start.

Astrologica includes:

• The history of astronomy and astrology, including ancient rites and customs

• The global star-lore behind famous constellations

• The lore behind the Tropical and Chinese zodiac systems, plus their dates, traits, and quirks

• Stories of the gods and goddesses associated with the planets

• How stars have served as maps, clocks, and calendars for millennia

Featuring over 100 pages of unforgettable artwork, fascinating facts, and powerful stories, this book is the perfect gift for curious young minds aged 8+.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: I don't believe in astrology. I do feel very sure some things aren't explainable by science...yet...because we don't know how to frame the questions. In the meantime, we have other existing systems to give the unusual coincidence a context our simple brains can comprehend.

Giving this beautiful book to its intended audience, kids eight years old and up, seems...fraught...to me. I'm not the least bit comfortable educating children into belief in any kind of supernatural stuff; I would not do this to any child in my authority.

I am not everyone. I offer this beautiful, costly book for you to consider, more especially for you or for another adult; but that is not my call. The art is gorgeous, as expected, and the stories well retold.

From here it's all you and your desire for your juvenile giftee.

See what I mean? Beautiful, just to have around!

TREE SPIRITS (2nd edition) is a great gift for your youngest, lap-sitting reader

TREE SPIRITS
LOUISE WANNIER (illus. April Tatiana Jackson)
True Roses Books
$24.95 trade paper, available now

Rating: 5* of five

The Publisher Says: Tree Spirits is an interactive picture book that encourages creativity, social emotional intelligence, and seeing the world with fresh eyes. Encouraging children to develop their imagination, creativity and emotional intelligence.

With 25 color photographs of trees, the rhyming text asks, “What do you see when you look up at this tree?” inviting a child to use their imagination. Turning the page reveals an illustrated overlay of a charming animal inspired by the lines and shapes of the tree bark. Each animal introduces a different emotion helping children to understand their own inner spirit and feelings.

For parents and grandparents and friends and family it is a fun book to read with the children in their lives. The book includes 4 sheets of tracing paper to invite them to begin drawing what they see and ends with encouraging children to go out and look at the trees in their neighborhood and keep noticing, “What do I see?”

LOUISE WANNIER “Safta”—“Safta” is Hebrew for grandmother and, as of this printing, she is very lucky to have five grandchildren. As an artist, Louise is fascinated by observing patterns and loves the discovery of how the camera shifts the focus and emphasis from what our eyes natively see. Beautiful illustrations by talented Graphic Artist April Tatiana Jackson.

I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.

My Review: Cool little book for very, very young readers, and pre-readers with grandparental help. Accustoms kids to observing, and interpreting their observations, not just staring at things in their worlds. It's got beautiful images of trees, which is always a good thing to expose a child to; it's got drawn overlays to point up the author's intended images to be found when looking at the tree photograph...and because it's an overlay it is a separate experience from just looking at how beautiful the trees are.

This is an absolutely delightful lap-book for your smallest family member. Start at about two or three, it seems to me.

Enjoy the first pages of the book.

It's beautiful, it's got a great message all our descendants need to hear, process, and internalize, and it's exactly right for Yule gifting.