This magazine-style book is an easy-to-use guide to the stars, constellations, and planets that’s a thorough primer on basic astronomy. It is accompanied by a comprehensive kit that contains a smaller “night sky observer’s handbook,” a seasonal constellation guide, a red-filter flashlight that makes reading at night easier, and a pack of eight holographic cards, one for each of the most easily observed constellations.

The cards – and their reproductions in illustrated form in the text – are particularly helpful in explaining how those strange jumbles of stars are actually supposed to look like a lion, scorpion, hunter, and the like. Within the text itself, veteran astronomy writer Kenneth Hewitt-White explains the myth behind each constellation, and describes how the motion of the stars means that these shapes are constantly changing place in the night sky. The references to the star charts and the observer’s handbook show how to find the stars.

Stars are not the only points of interest, though. Hewitt-White examines the solar system, with a look at each individual planet and its “stats” (size, location, etc.) as well as comets, satellites, the Aurora Borealis, and falling stars. There is also a good description of the tools young readers can use – telescopes and binoculars – to further their sky-watching.

The book’s fast-paced format and funky look avoids taking too deep a look into any one area of astronomy, which is why this book is probably best aimed at young readers who have shown an interest and are looking for the basics. The kit will only heighten their fun.