One of the things companies making collectible trading cards have done is to add "foil" to cards to make them rarer and therefore more expensive. I have never been particularly fond of either the marketing technique or the aesthetics of this particular practice, but I may have to change my mind after reading "Kingdom of the Sun: A Book of the Planets." This National Geographic Book introduces young readers to the planets of our solar system by not only telling them about the features of the planets but also comparing them to the god/desses of classical mythology for whom they were named, who tell their stories in the first person. The text of "Kingdom of the Sun" is written by Dr. Jacquelin Mitton; in 1990 Asteroid 4027 was named Mitton by the International Astronomical Union in honor of Dr. Mitton and her husband, Simon, who is also an astronomer. However, what immediately catches your eye is the gorgeous artwork by Christina Balit. For each of the planets, along with the sun and moon, Balit has created a painting showing the appropriate god/dess in all of their glory over the heavenly object. The brilliantly colored paintings are embossed with gold foil and if you look carefully you can find the astrological sign for each planet in both the border panel and somewhere on the god/dess. I especially like the contrast between the more naturalistic depictions of the planets with the finely stylized representations of the god/desses. The back of the book includes statistical information about our solar system along with a glossary of terms from astronomer to volcano. Mitton and Balit had worked together previously on "Zoo in the Sky," a similar book about the animal constellations, and I cannot imagine that it is any less exquisite than "Kingdom of the Sun." This is such a beautiful book that you have to remind yourself that it is educational as well. This book can be used as a transition from mythology to astronomy or the other way around.

Kingdom Of The Sun: A Book Of The Planets a truly exciting picturebook that takes young readers on a cosmic tour through the solar system. Published by the National Geographic Society, Kingdom of the sun is filled with scientific facts about each planet as well as mythological lore about the gods after whom the planets are named. The color illustrations of the ancient gods and their planets against the backdrop of space are particularly striking, and the eye-catching use of shiny gold foil makes Kingdom Of The Sun a picturebook that compels admiration. The last two pages feature a short glossary and a table of facts about the sun, moon, and planets. Wonderfully written by Jacqueline Mitton and superbly illustrated by Christina Balit, Kingdom of the Sun is a truly beautiful gift book, superb for sparking an interest in science and astronomy in young people, and very highly recommended.

My son really enjoyed this book because he loves animals. It explains, in simple terms, the various constellations. The illustrations are beautifully done and very engaging.

The only reason I was a tad disappointed in "Zoo in the Sky: A Book of Animal Constellations," is that I tracked down this 1998 volume after I had stumbled across "Kingdom of the Sun : A Book of the Planets," the 2001 collaboration between writer Jacqueline Mitton and illustrator Christina Balit. If you like what Balit does with foil for the stars that define the animal constellations, then you should see the stunning artwork in their next book. Both superb volumes are courtesy of the National Geographic Society. Dr. Mitton is an astronomer, who spends more time telling young readers about the stories the ancients told when they looked at the night sky and used the starts to trace the forms of animals. Because this book focuses specifically on animal constellations it does not include the entire zodiac, making room for the Crane, the Whale, the Hare, and the Toucan, among others you might not have heard of before. The front and back pieces of the book shows all of the constellations in the Northern Sky and Southern Sky, with a list of the specific constellations featured in the book, while the back of the book provides more scientific information about stars. Of course the chief attraction are the paintings of the animals, but what really impresses me are the night skies Balit paints behind them. Be sure to check out anything these two do in the future, because you are not going to come even close to being disappointed.