Kingdom of the Sun: A Book about the Planets Book

Children take a wondrous tour of our solar system in this stunning new book that weaves mythology and astronomy in magical ways. Jacqueline Mitton's poetic text explores each planet, comparing its features to those of the Roman god or goddess for whom it was named.

Although this naming occurred long before humans had accurate information about the planets, the book points out some remarkable coincidences based on what we know today. The veiled goddess Venus, for example, lends her name to a cloud-veiled planet. And the blue, stormy planet Neptune is named for the god of the sea.

Christina Balit's glorious illustrations, sparkling with gold-foil accents, bring the mythology to life and draw children into the wonders of our planetary kingdom. This intriguing and highly informative book—a sequel to the same team's best-selling Zoo in the Sky—presents the most up-to-date, scientific details about the planets in an artful way that will stir the minds and imaginations of young readers.