Under the Milky Way: Traditions and Celebrations Beneath the Stars

K-Gr 3–This picture book portrays various nighttime celebrations and traditions from around North America. All of the celebrations take place in the United States, with the exception of one taking place in Canada. Some of the pages cover larger celebrations such as Halloween in Salem, MA. Others touch on simple recreational activities, such as ice skating in Maple Grove, MN. Each spread contains larger text that can be used in a read-aloud. Smaller text provides details about the area and the event. The final pages share information about the Milky Way and how to identify a couple of stars and constellations. While a book about nighttime could be visually dark, this book has bright and cheerful illustrations, giving the activities a festive feel. As a bonus, the author has painted her dog on every page and students will have fun trying to find him.