Mr. and Mrs. Marvell and their four children live on a farm in Wisconsin. Mr. Marvell has a great curiosity about the universe, and the stars particularly, and pays more attention to the comings and goings of Orion and the Big Dipper than he does to his earthly neighbors. One spring night he tells the children about the constellations of the zodiac.
Next day the Marvells start off on a visit to the children's grandmother in Virginia, leaving the farm in the care of August, the hired man. But August, not a very dependable character, fails to come. That same night the neighborhood is aroused by a light that is like unusually clear starlight, only much, much brighter. It comes from the Marvell's farm, and the whole countryside turns out to see what causes it. Every board, every windowpane, every shingle, brick, and stone of the Marvell's house is shining.
Since there is apparently nothing wrong and the light returns night after night, the farmers get used to it. But August, coming at last to investigate, has an extraordinary experience. And strange and delightful things happen to the Marvells when they get home.
This story, of a family whose lives become involved with the characters of the zodiac, has a special quality—half fantasy and half humorous realism—that both adults and children will appreciate.
Ilonka Karasz, artist and designer of note, has done a beautiful full-color jacket, three double-page illustrations in midnight blue, and many charming black and white spot drawings throughout the book.
—from the dust jacket
"This is a lovely introduction to the constellations of the zodiac for children, and readers of all ages will be enthralled by the evocative scratchboard illustrations. The Dover production is a high-quality hardcover on heavy, slightly glossy paper, a beautiful book to treasure for many years." — The Emerald City Book Review
The Marvell family is on the move, driving from their Wisconsin farm to visit the children's grandmother in Virginia. The night before their departure, Mr. Marvell talks to Roger, Heather, and the twins about the wonders of the night sky and explains the zodiac — a beautiful trail traveled by the sun in the daytime and by the moon and planets at night. The pathway's 12 sections, called the "signs" of the zodiac, contain clusters of stars. Long ago shepherds and sailors identified the clusters with characters from mythology, and so the heavens became filled with gods and heroes, hunters, ploughmen, and archers as well as birds, bears, farm animals, and monsters.
Upon the family's arrival in Virginia, Mr. Marvell sets up his telescope but he can't find the Crab —it has disappeared from the sky! Meanwhile, back in Wisconsin, a strange light emanates from the Marvells' house, illuminating every board, windowpane, shingle, brick, and stone. What could be causing it?
A Newbery Honor book of 1947, this extraordinary tale by a noted American author is gloriously illustrated with woodcut-style scratchboard graphics.
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