This week on CBeebies is Stargazing Week.

We do not usually watch live television but this week Esther, and especially William, have been really enjoying Nina and the Neurons space explorations and the CBeebies Stargazing programme.

Esther and William now know that the moon is made of rock and that we can see the moon because the sun shines on it. They know the names for the different shapes of the moon and love that a crescent moon looks like a banana.

They have also loved learning about comets and what makes a comet’s tail.

I think that we will be continuing to watch Nina and the Neurons. We are Nina’s newest fans.

To complement the Stargazing we have been doing on TV we have also been reading some lovely star themed books and I thought that I might share some of them with you.

These are our bedtime books for this star and night sky themed week.

The Sea Mice and the Stars

This is a lovely picture book written by Kenneth Steven. It is about a family of mice who live on the sea. It is their duty to collect stars to protect all the mice on land and sea through the winter time. The story sees the young mice battle through a storm to catch the magic falling stars and deliver them to all the other mice. A simple story with beautiful illustrations and filled with magic sparkle.

The Wishing Star

This is a story of friendship written by M Christina Butler. Two mice, who are best friends, search for a star they see fall into the lake. There is only one star but they both want to make a wish. This is a story about the importance of sharing and looking after your friends. I like to read this one with Esther and William if they have a bit of a falling out. What would you wish for on a shooting star?

One Starry Night

This is another M Christina Butler story, this time about a little hedgehog. Little Hedgehog sees a shower of shooting stars and together with his friends sets off to find them. He meets with a few troubles along the way but eventually gets to the top of the hill and sees the magical star filled sky. This story has a version of Twinkle Twinkle in it that says a star is like a sparkler in the sky. We like singing this version together.

Starlight Sailor

Starlight Sailor is from Barefoot Books. Monika, Mum on the Brink, gave us our copy and it is a beautiful, beautiful book. It begins with the words Tilda’s funeral also began with

Star light, star bright
First star I see tonight
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have the wish I wish tonight.

The little boat carries the boy to a land where children wait on golden sands. Where children live in a world of adventure and play. It is of course a dream and the boy wakes up, but I wonder if he has travelled to the land of magic Tilda lives in now, with all the other angel babies, all the babies in the sky. A beautifully illustrated lullaby.

I Took The Moon For A Walk

This is one of David’s favourite stories to share with Esther and William. A beautiful short story written in verse. The illustrations are wonderful and there is much to talk about when reading this book. This is an adventure into the world after dark, it explores the moonlit landscape and the creatures living there. It is a wonderful story to share at the end of the day. Children can discover the mysterious beauty of the world after dark in Carolyn Curtis’, I Took the Moon for a Walk.

On The Night You Were Born

I bought this book shortly after Esther and William were born, then a friend bought me another copy shortly after Tilda died. It is a beautiful book to give as a gift when a baby is born. It is a magical book to read aloud and the illustrations are wonderful. This is a book with a beautiful message for a new baby born to the world.

On the night you were born
the moon smiled with such wonder
that the stars peeked in to see you
and the night wind whispered
“Life will never be the same again.”

Draw Me A Star

This is a classic by Eric Carle. It is a story about drawing, about creating, about the world around us and how it began. It is a book that teaches you to draw the perfect star.

Down
over
left
and right
draw
a star
oh so
bright

How To Catch A Star

This wonderful book by Oliver Jeffers is one of our all time favourites and you can ready why we love it so much here

Goodnight Tractor

This book has been our final book at night over the festive period because of our time away at Coombe Mill.

The stars are out
It’s time for bed

A beautiful book where a little boy says goodnight to all of his farm based toys and especially to his favourite little red tractor. A short simple story, with familiar characters. A lovely way to say goodnight.

So many magical books made all the more magical by their stars.

We have others not included in this list such as Moon Rabbit and Daddy’s Little Star and of course, many versions of Twinkle Twinkle.

Do you have a favourite book filled with stars? We would love some more to add to our collection.

Good night x