What Happened to our Starry, Starry Night?
If you go outside on a moonless night, what do you see? A planet, maybe a handful of stars if you’re lucky. Unfortunately, for too many of us the city lights diminish the night sky. Streetlights and other artificial lights do more than illuminate our world. They create problems for plants and animals living in and around our cities, including seasonal migrators.
Who Hid the Stars? How Light Pollution Changes Our World by Danio Miserocchi & Maciej Michno; illus. by Valentina Gottardi, and translated by Sylvia Notini
This well-documented book examines how city lights affect birds and bats, reptiles and insects – even trees and flowers. It also provides hope, sharing things cities and people can do to minimize light pollution. Back matter includes ideas for bringing back the stars (dark skies) and resources.
Saving the Night : How Light Pollution is Harming Life on Earth by Stephen Aitken
Full of fascinating photos and facts, this book examines many interactions creatures and plants have developed with light, the differing effects of various sources of light pollution on land and in our waterways, conservationists working to preserve the night, and successful projects. It includes suggestions for reducing our individual light pollution.
Dark Matters: Nature’s Reaction to Light Pollution by Joan Marie Galat
A blend of science and memoir that focuses on the environmental consequences of increasingly artificially lit night skies. She describes its impact on sea turtles, fireflies, birds, and bats and provides basic steps to address light pollution.
The World at Night: Discover the World That Wakes When You Sleep by Ben Lerwill
A browsable book broken into sections including the night sky, oceans, forests, and cities. From penguins to city rats, it explores how animals sleep, how they see at night, and the environmental and health effects of artificial light on animals, including humans.
In the Dark: The Science of What Happens at Night by Lisa Deresti Betik, illustrated by Josh Holinaty
Combining lightly comic illustrations with amazing graphics and charts, it explores the biological functions of sleep and darkness on people, animals, and plants. Did you know plants do math at night? It also examines issues caused by artificial lights on migrations, animal and plant behaviors, and the science of the night.
Follow the moon home : a tale of one idea, twenty kids, and a hundred sea turtles by Philippe Cousteau and Deborah Hopkinson
Informational fiction inspired by the student-initiated Lights Out for Loggerheads program in South Carolina. The story presents a model for community engagement, and back matter outlines actions appropriate for preteen environmentalists.
Some Hands-On Appreciation Of The Dark:
The Animal Adventurer’s Guide : How to Prowl For an Owl, Make Snail Slime, and Catch a Frog Bare-Handed, by Susie Spikol
While not dedicated to night prowling, these animal-focused activities will get kids outside at any time of the year whether light or dark.
Sky Gazing : A Guide to the Moon, Sun, Planets, Stars, Eclipses, Constellations by Meg Thacher.
This was actually a featured book a couple years ago (link) but we wanted to mention it again as a resource for sky-watchers. Each section includes activities that focus on the sky, the moon, the sun, planets, and stars and constellations.
This month’s STEM Tuesday book list was prepared by:
Sue Heavenrich is an award-winning author, blogger, and bug-watcher. A long line of ants marching across the kitchen counter inspired her first article for kids. When not writing, she’s either in the garden or tromping through the woods. Her books for middle-grade readers include Funky Fungi: 30 Activities for Exploring Molds, Mushrooms, Lichens, and More and Diet for a Changing Climate. Visit her at www.sueheavenrich.com
Maria is a children’s author, blogger, and poet who is passionate about making nature and reading fun for children. She’s been a judge for the Cybils Awards since 2017, and a judge for the #50PreciousWords competition since its inception. Two of her poems are published in The Best of Today’s Little Ditty 2016 and 2014-2015 anthologies. When not writing, critiquing, or reading, she bird watches, travels the world, bakes, and hikes. Visit her at www.mariacmarshall.com.
