A Walk through the Heavens: A Guide to Stars and Constellations and their Legends

Book Description

A Walk through the Heavens is a beautiful and easy-to-use guide to the constellations of the northern hemisphere. By following the unique simplified maps, readers will be able to easily find and identify the constellations and the stars within them. Ancient myths and legends of the sky are retold, adding to the mystery of the stars. Written for the complete beginner, this practical guide introduces the patterns of the starry skies in a memorable way. No equipment is needed, apart from normal sight and clear skies. Milton D. Heifetz is a clinical professor of neurosurgery at the University of Southern California and visiting professor at Harvard Medical School. This is his first astronomy book. Wil Tirion is the author of numerous sky guides, including The Cambridge Guide to Stars and Planets (1997), The Cambridge Star Atlas (1996), and The Monthly Sky Guide (Cambridge, 2003). Previous Edition Hb (1998): 00-521-62513-0

Customer Reviews:

Suits me........2007-09-04

I like to look at the constellations in my backyard. In other books, the constellations are presented separately, and you have to guestimate where they are. This book shows you one constellation, and then shows you how to line up the stars for the next one. For example, most people can find the big dipper, and from there most people can line up the stars on the front of the dipper part, and be directed to the North Star. Well, this book shows that if you follow the curve of the handle, you can find the star Arturus, in the constellation Bootes. All the constellations in this book are connected this way, so that you don't have to guess where they are anymore. Every constellation points to another.

Also, most books have the stars on a dark blue background with black writing. It's hard to read. This has the stars white, on a light lavender background, so the black and white writing stands out much better. All in all, it make the diagrams much easier on the eyes. I am going to try to learn one constellation each night.

Has correct constellation segment connections unlike Rey's "The Stars: A New Way to See Them".......2005-09-26

Undoubtedly lots of beginning astronomers will be trying to decide between Rey's book "The Stars: A New Way to See Them" and Heifetz/Tirion's "A Walk Through the Heavens". I just wanted to point out something that could be a deciding factor for some people: "A Walk Through the Heavens" teaches you to find contellations which are drawn using the time-tested line segments between the stars of the constellations. In other words, the connections between the stars in any given constellation are the "traditional" connections. As an astronomy purist, this is the way I prefer to see them.

In contrast, H.A. Rey used his imagination to re-draw the line segments between the stars in his book "The Stars: A New Way to See Them". Put another way, Rey diverges from the accepted norm in that the connections between the stars in any given constellation are drawn differently than the accepted connections. That means if you look at a planisphere or any other observing aid, the constellations' connections will be drawn differently than in Rey's book (but will appear the same as they do in "A Walk Through the Heavens").

That said, some people find Rey's "new way" easier since Rey's constellation connections are more intuitive for some people to grasp. But if you learn from Rey's book then be prepared to re-learn the conventional constellation segments once you graduate to any other astronomical reference.

A Great Learning Guide.......2004-06-05

One of the best, if not the best, book I have found to easily teach you the night sky and how to find and identify the Constellations. I highly recommend this book for anyone that wants to learn the night sky easily and complete. A++++

Confusing Constellation Relationships - Good Basic Astronomy.......2002-09-28

Those who consider this a really good beginners' book must not have seen Hans Rey's classic "Find the Constellations" or "The Stars: A New Way to See Them".
The latter book was "new" generations ago when my now grown children marveled at the heavens using our heavily worn hard copy of "The Stars" with Rey, and is now collecting grubby fingerprints from the frequent use by my grandchildren in our original and several paperback copies.
Part 2 of the Heifetz/Tirion book uses a labored method of originating and extending lines all over the sky from "Star n" of Asterism "m" through several other hard to define positions of far removed stars and further on to numbered or named stars in destination constellations for its "Walk Through the Heavens".
Too complicated for the purpose for beginners.
One could spend all night trying to imagine these lines in the sky while a few minutes with either of the Rey books would have the beginner naming and knowing half a dozen constellations and then star hopping to others.
Parts 1, 3 and 4 save the book. Part 3, the section on Legends of the Heavens, Milky Way, etc. is very good. Part 4, sort of a Misc. chapter has a small collection of good viewing information.
The book is a good buy, but the Rey books are a lot better for learning the constellations for any age group, and only slightly more expensive.
The Time-Life Skywatching/Advanced Skywatching volumes for a few more bucks are a little more advanced but orders of magnitude better for beginning teenagers, adults or advanced elementary schoolers and provide a lot more bang for your buck.

An Excellent Primer to the Constellations.......2002-09-02

This book makes finding constellations in the Northern Hemisphere(the author has a similar book for the Southern Hemisphere)an interesting and successful endeavor. It is not just for youngsters, but for anyone with an interest in learning how to find constellations and the names of the major stars. The diagrams illustrate the relationships between stars and constellations in simple drawings that make it like an easy-to-read roadmap. It builds from the pointer stars of the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) to all the constellations and how to find them. Instead of frustration and doubt you'll feel the exhilaration of discovery.

Book Description

Put on your socks and shoes -- and don't forget your ears!

We're going on a listening walk. Shhhhh. Do not talk. Do not hurry. Get ready to fill your ears with a world of wonderful and surprising sounds.

Customer Reviews:

A Fantastic Book!.......2006-01-26

My name is Lizbeth. I am a third grader in Salton City, CA. This book is about a little girl that was walking and then heard noises. She paid attention to the noises. I felt fantastic about this book. I learned that when you're walking, you can hear noises. I loved the part when the little girl splashed water. She is a great girl. I hope you buy it!

This is a great children's book of identifying sounds.........1999-01-25

I have enjoyed reading this book to young children as they join along in reading by making the sounds of the items outside that the little girl hears when she goes on a walk with her dad and dog. The way some of the words are printed on the pages add to the overall enjoyment of reading.

PRESCHOOLERS WILL LOVE IT!.......1999-01-14

When my children were preschool age, they loved this book, and it still brings fond memories and smiles five years later. There is so much entertainment value in the various sounds, like the "zoooooooooom" of the lawnmower or "trring trring" of the bicycle bell. Your children will love hearing your version of these sounds, as well as their own. My girls and I took many "listening walks," inspired by this wonderful book.

Enjoy the sounds of silence with your children........1998-04-26

A simple idea, to listen. But we forget the magic that there is in "first times". Do you remember the first time you heard a cricket sing? Probably not, but after you read this book, it won't matter - you will feel like every time you hear a cricket, and many other sounds in your world, its your first time again.

Product Description

In 2000, inspired by her father, Leslie Mass decided she would turn a lifelong fantasy into reality. At the age of 59 she began to train for a grueling journey a thru-hike of the 2,000-mile Appalachian Trail. In Beauty May She Walk chronicles Leslies struggles and triumphs during her hike. On the trail, Leslie struggles with how to balance the needs of her family and friends while making the trail a priority; how to shed years of social conditioning that dictate how a woman should act; and how to know when to ask for help, while understanding that sometimes, help has to come from within. For the first few weeks, Leslie learns how to pitch a tent in the rain, keep animals out of her food, and lighten the load on her back. As the terrain toughens, she struggles to physically keep up with the trail community she depends on socially to keep going, and realizes the difficulty of maintaining her obligations to family and friends while focusing her efforts on putting one foot in front of the other, every day. And after September 11, 2001, she copes with being seemingly the only hiker on the trails for miles, eventually forcing her to change her definition of hiking her own hike. A suburban college professor, Leslie is just like any other woman you might pass on the grocery aisle. Her story is an inspiring physical and mental journey to reach the goal of a lifetime.

Customer Reviews:

Inspiring Book.......2007-08-26

A wonderful and inspiring book for anyone, but especially for women over 50. While I don't plan anything so adventurous as Ms Mass, she does inspire me to keep walking.
I especially enjoyed her writing style and her shared insights into people and culture which make this book so much more than a walker's diary.

In haste may she finish............2007-07-16

The title is lovely, the premise is promising, and the reality is deadly dull. Who know hiking the appalachian trail could be so unrelentingly tedious? I read every travel essay that comes along, and it's rare that I find one boring. This one is, with a capital B.

Outstanding.......2007-03-10

I enjoyed the book - its always been a dream of mine to go on such a journey. I'm not much of a reader but since I got the 1st book
written about the APT I have not missed many of the books. I also have
one of the tapes (Trek) & enjoyed that too. I'm 68 & wished I'd known
about the APT long before I got so elderly. It still excites me & I can't hardly stop reading when I get a new book, this one is very satifying & so full of hope. Thanks

In Beauty May She Walk.......2007-02-21

I've read 4 books on hiking the AT. This one I liked the least. Author complained a lot about how difficult it was. Left me almost depressed about the prospect of hiking the trail.

very enjoyable reading.......2007-02-13

Leslie Mass hiked the Appalachian Trail at 60. Her book is one of my favorite accounts of hiking the Appalachian Trail. She is a college administrator, wife and mother who managed to fit a flip-flop hike into her work schedule. Since childhood, Mass had been told to speak softly and accomodate herself to others. On her hike she learned to value her own opinion and one of life's biggest lessons: sometimes it is not so bad to be alone and hike your own hike. She made elaborate plans to hike parts of the trail with friends and family. You can tell that she was very accustomed to being close to other people, part of a very social world. In spite of this, she writes that she always knew she was an introvert. Her biggest lesson from the trail was to trust in herself, rather than going along with someone else who forced her into the role of "follower". On the trail, she made friends with several other hikers, one of whom took way too much interest in Mass' daughter, Amy, before even meeting her. He basically took over Mass' hike, and made her miserable. When Amy joined her mother on the trail, he attached himself to her. He didn't seem to be the most stable character, even making remarks about which man hiking the trail Mass had selected for her daughter. Creepy. I hope nothing bad came of this. Dog lovers might get some negative vibes: Mass obviously HATES dogs!

Average customer rating:

Nice book about Rainforest creatures
Great rainforest and ABC book.
Wonderful classroom addition

A Walk in the Rainforest
Kristin Joy Pratt
Manufacturer: Dawn Publications (CA)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Biology | Science, Nature & How It Works | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1878265539

Book Description

A Walk in the Rainforest provides a colorful, stimulating way of learning about the exotic animals and plants of the rainforest. Presented in an alphabet style format, each page consists of an illustration of a different rainforest species, together with a paragraph of intriguing facts about the lifestyle and habitat of the plant or animal. Kristin wrote and illustrated her first book, A Walk in the Rainforest, at age 15, A Swim Through the Sea, at age 17, and A Fly in the Sky at age 19. She enjoys bringing her message of environmental concern to schools and conferences.

Customer Reviews:

Nice book about Rainforest creatures.......2005-09-07

This is a colorful look at different Rainforest creatures, written by a teenager. It follows a frog introducing animals you might meet in the Rainforest. It is not quite as good as her other book Under the Sea. I would recommend it for 4-8 year olds, it can be wordy.

Great rainforest and ABC book........2002-12-31

I found this book in my quest for interesting books for a course I was teaching on the rainforest. At the ripe old age of 15, Kristin Joy Pratt (now Pratt-Serafini) developed this lovely book. Her illustrations take you on the journey through the rainforest with XYZ the ant. As the reader explores the ABC's, s/he also learns about the life within and the biodiversity. Words, facts and colorful illustrations will encourage discussion about this habitat and make learning the ABC's and exciting journey.

Wonderful classroom addition.......1997-07-31

A Walk in the Rain Forest is a wonderful introduction to the tropical rain forest- its plants, animals, and people. The book tells the story of XYZ- a small ant- and his journey through the rainforest. The beautiful pictures and simple text appeals to children of all ages. Additional factual information appeals to older children. This is a great book to use in the classroom to help introduce children to the wonders of the rain forest

Average customer rating:

50 Times a Day
Librarian's Favorite, my two-year-old son's favorite too!
BEAUTIFUL book!
we reach for the moon every night
My son's favorite book. A classic!

I Took the Moon for a Walk
Carolyn Curtis
Manufacturer: Barefoot Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Picture Books | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1841486116

Product Description

Lyrically written and beautifully illustrated, this memorable moonlight journey will leave all who read it marveling at the serene beauty of the world at night.

Following the magical adventure of a young boy who goes exploring with his friend, the Moon, I Took the Moon for a Walk combines lyrical verse with detailed illustrations, creating a dramatic backdrop for this imaginative journey. Readers can also discover all kinds of facts about the passage of the moon through the sky and its influence on our lives.

Customer Reviews:

50 Times a Day.......2007-10-10

Is about how many times my 3-year old daughter would read this book, (if she could.)

Librarian's Favorite, my two-year-old son's favorite too!.......2007-03-16

BEAUTIFUL PROSE, WONDERFUL PICTURES. My two-year-old son LOVES this book. The assonance (vowel rhyme within the words) in the prose makes it flow much like a poem but much more sophisticated than the popular, "Good Night Moon." The first line: "I took the moon for a walk last night, it followed along like a still summer kite, high in the sky through darkness and light, when I took the moon for a walk." Animals and people appear from page to page with wonderful landscapes that reward readers when closely examined. I am a librarian and this book should be on a list of BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS, EVER.

BEAUTIFUL book!.......2007-01-04

This book is beautifully illustrated and the prose is wonderful. This is a favourite of everyone in our house. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. My son is 2 1/2 and will find joy reading this for years to come. The illustrations are magical. A must have.

we reach for the moon every night.......2006-07-03

my 2 boys love this book. they pick it out every night. can't wait for the sequel!!

My son's favorite book. A classic!.......2006-05-03

My son loves this book. He is 21 months and has pointed out the moon for over a year. If I ask him to grab a book, this is the book he brings me. The book is very well written and easy to read and my son enjoy the pictures very much. A classic!

A Walk in the Woods Coloring Book (Dover Coloring Book)

Average customer rating:

Education in Coloring Book
AMAZING DETAILS
nice pictures
Excellent detailed book
Adult coloring books

A Walk in the Woods Coloring Book (Dover Coloring Book)
Dot Barlowe
Manufacturer: Dover Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0486426440

Book Description

Accomplished illustrator and nature writer takes you on a beautiful tour of the four seasons, pointing out with great artistic and verbal skills the many mysteries of nature — from sightings of spring flowers to amazing life beneath pond ice. An entertaining and informative book for colorists of all ages. Captions.

Customer Reviews:

Education in Coloring Book.......2007-05-07

If your child enjoys animals, then he/she will enjoy this coloring book. It has realistic pictures of animals in their natural habitat. Also included at the bottom of each page is a desciption of flowers, insects, etc. seen in the background or foreground.

AMAZING DETAILS.......2007-04-11

I just purchased these Dover COloring Books for my mother and she loves them. The detail is out of this world and the variety of colors you can use are only limited by your inagination. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

nice pictures.......2007-03-27

the pictures are great for my little ones to color. they enjoy hearing the descriptions under the pictures as well.

Excellent detailed book.......2007-01-12

I purchased this coloring book for my 8 year old nephew. He loves to color but does not like the basic color books. This book is very detailed and offers children a challenge. In addition it has a lot of information about each scene, teaching children. Beautiful book.

Adult coloring books.......2007-01-10

This is an excellent coloring book for adults who like to color, it has fine detail, fine coloring detail. it is a great collectors item

Hiking Arkansas: Nature Walks and Day Hikes

Average customer rating:

An absolute must-read!

Hiking Arkansas: Nature Walks and Day Hikes
Janie Jones , and Wyatt Jones
Manufacturer: Falcon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Travel | Subjects | Books

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Accessories:

Rayovac SPHLTLED 3-in-1 LED Head-Lite

ASIN: 076272465X

Book Description

From the Mississippi bottomlands in the east to the hill country of the Ouachita and Ozark mountains in the west, Arkansas offers a wide range of excellent, four-season opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast. This guide, compiled by Arkansas natives Janie and Wyatt Jones, highlights many of the best hikes across the state, for both the novice hiker as well as the veteran.

Customer Reviews:

An absolute must-read!.......2004-01-26

I found this book very informative and would suggest it to anyone who plans to visit Arkansas,as well as, the native Arkansan. There are so many trails listed that I was unaware of. Hats off to the authors!

Favorite Wildflower Walks in Georgia (A Wormsloe Foundation Nature Book) (A Wormsloe Foundation Nature Book)

Average customer rating:

Favorite Wildflower Walks in Georgia (A Wormsloe Foundation Nature Book) (A Wormsloe Foundation Nature Book)
Hugh Nourse , and Carol Nourse
Manufacturer: University of Georgia Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Walking | Hiking & Camping | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Reference | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0820328413

Product Description

Wildflower lovers across Georgia know Hugh and Carol Nourse through their popular slide lectures. Countless other enthusiasts have seen their glorious wildflower photographs in books and magazines. Here the Nourses draw on years of travel around the state to share their favorite places for seeing wildflowers. Of the many walks the Nourses have taken, these are the ones they return to most often because of the density or the unusual nature of the floral display. All twenty of these wildflower walks are on public land; everything you need to know about how to find them and what to do once you're there is included.

Five walks are presented from each of Georgia's four geographic regions: Cumberland Plateau/Ridge and Valley (northwestern Georgia); Blue Ridge (northeastern Georgia); Piedmont (Georgia foothills and fall line); and Coastal Plain (all of Georgia below the fall line). For each walk, a scenic photo gives a hint of the locale's overall character. In addition, five of the wildflowers encountered on the walk are profiled with a photograph and a detailed description. All of the wildflowers on these walks are native to Georgia. A few are rare and endangered.

Coverage of each walk includes directions and a trail map plus information about:

- flowering season

- peak flowering period

- flower habitats

- walk length and difficulty

- restroom availability

- applicable fees

Book Description

Make each night a meaningful stargazing experience with A Walk Through the Southern Sky. This ultimate guide to the heavens takes the guesswork out of identifying constellations and fosters appreciation of their beauty and significance. All you need are your eyes; this trusty volume takes care of the rest. This volume brings to stargazers in the Southern hemisphere the same insightful coverage and accessibility that Heifetz and Tirion's previous volume--A Walk Through the Heavens--did for those up North. Its unique, simplified maps not only make constellations easy to find but also help locate the stars within them. Without having to use a telescope or other astronomical equipment, readers can gauge the sizes and separations between constellations, and easily move from one to the other, by simply following the book's clear instructions. In addition, the ancient myths and legends surrounding the constellations, are retold, providing a rich historical prespective. Beautifully illustrated by Wil Tirion, this is an ideal introduction to launch the novice astronomer on a journey across the starlit skies.

Customer Reviews:

Take this one with you.......2005-09-29

I take a trip to the Southern Hemisphere on occasion and have been looking for a good compact guide to bring along with me. I find the simplified star charts really useful to get myself quickly oriented. I don't need a full blown super detailed star atlas with all kinds of unnecessary detail and clutter that I'm unable to use, and this one fits the bill in that respect.

It also covers basic mythology of the Southern Skies and makes an excellent companion to it's sister work on the Northern Skies.

If your more interested in deep sky objects of the Southern skies you'd be better off looking elsewhere as this book only lightly discusses DSO's.

Learning the Southern Sky.......2001-04-10

After deciding to go into the Observational Astronomy hobby, I have been denying experts' advise for months. Although being almost a rookie, "start with a pair of binoculars", "plan your session ahead" and so on seemed trivial to me. This book helps the reader to solve which is probably the very first lesson to begin with: "learn the sky". In addition to that, it is dedicated to the Southern Hemisphere, trascendental for those who live "below" the equator. "A walk through the Southern Sky" easily and friendly explains how to reach minor constellations starting at the major ones. From Orion and Canis Major, precise highways are traced to reach Canis Minor, Cancer, Lepus and so on. From Crux and Centauri, to Vela and so on. I had started with a friend's computerized scope, and always thought that "starhopping" would be imposible for me under light-polluted skies. Probably one of the major goals of the authors is having proved me wrong. Again, if I could, anybody can!

Average customer rating:

A delightful journey taken by a boy and his Grandmother

Gramma's Walk
Anna Grossnickle Hines
Manufacturer: Greenwillow Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baby-3 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0688114806

Customer Reviews:

A delightful journey taken by a boy and his Grandmother.......1998-05-16

Even though Gramma is confined to a wheelchair, she 'travels' to a lovely beach with her grandson who has come to visit. She paints a picture in words as they travel over the sand, dipping their feet into the chilly sea water while watching the sea gulls, an otter, and building sand castles that are swept away by the waves. The reader can feel the warmth of the sand, the roughness of the barnacle covered rocks and the cool sea breeze as gramma weaves her tale. This is a delightful book with soft watercolor illustration which together with the story make for a subtle look at the power of love between young and old.

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