Stories in the Stars

Many people can identify Pegasus, the winged horse from Greek myths, but they may not know that he sprung from the head of the monster Medusa! Pegasus's important roles in myths of the heroes Perseus and Bellerophon are featured in this thrilling retelling of the famous stories. Pegasus isn't just in the pages of books, though. The Pegasus constellation is one of the largest in the night sky from the end of summer through fall. Readers will learn what the constellation looks like through photographs as well as delight in the illustrations of the myths.

The Roman mythological hero Hercules is celebrated in books, television, and movies. But readers might be surprised to know that Hercules is a constellation they can see in the night sky, too. They'll learn how the incredibly strong baby Hercules killed deadly snakes in his crib as well as how he later performed twelve impossible labors. Some think the constellation shows Hercules standing on a dragon's head! This fun book is a fascinating door into the worlds of mythology and astronomy.

The vain queen of Greek myths, Cassiopeia, is forever remembered in the constellation named for her. Cassiopeia's pride earned the wrath of Poseidon, the god of the sea, and put her beautiful daughter Andromeda in the path of a sea monster! Readers will be on the edge of their seats to find out what happens in this exciting story full of imaginative illustrations and vivid photographs. They'll also learn how to locate the famous Cassiopeia constellation in the night sky.

Ursa Major, also known as the Great Bear, is one of the most famous constellations in the night sky. Ancient cultures thought the star formation looked like a bear, and the ancient Greeks connected the constellation to their myth of Callisto, a lovely woman who was transformed into a bear by the jealous goddess Hera. This exciting book provides an accessible introduction to the world of mythology and stargazing. Readers will also learn how to identify the Big Dipper within the Great Bear.

Perseus the constellation is named for the legendary hero of many Greek myths. Not only does Perseus kill the Gorgon Medusa but he rescues the princess Andromeda from being eaten by a horrible monster. And these are just two of Perseus's adventures. Readers will find out how Perseus acquired a helmet that turned him invisible, the sandals that helped him fly, and how he vanquished his enemies. Supporting illustrations and photographs will help readers visualize both the famous figure and his constellation in this comprehensible retelling of the myth.

The constellation called Leo looks like a lion, and many people recall the story of the Nemean Lion from Greek mythology when they see it. The Nemean Lion was a man-eating beast that no weapon could harm. Only one man could discover a way to kill it: the hero Hercules. This accessible, entertaining volume tells the story of Hercules and his battle with the infamous lion as well as instructs readers about when they can see Leo for themselves in the night sky.