What's Your Sign By Madalyn Aslan, Grosset & Dunlap, 2003, £8.50,
(only available in UK through Amazon) 0-448-42693-5

The author has said that her interest in astrology began when she was seven years old because it gave her access to a secret door inside herself, and helped her to understand those action places in herself that she had known all along but could never find the words for. Her aim when writing this book was to help other children to do the same, to build their confidence through teaching them to see what is special and unique in them, and to give them a better understanding of themselves and those around them. All the information is presented clearly and in an amusing way.

Madalyn goes through the astrological signs with a summing up of their qualities, and insights as to how that sign might behave or feel in different areas of their life, and what they might expect from others of that sign around them. Sections include, "Which signs you groove with: which signs you don't', 'With your family', and 'your teachers', 'In the playground', 'With your friends', ''in school', and 'How to spot…' She also lists celebrities born under each sign, describes the nature of the ruling planet, draws on Greek and Roman myths to show temperament and tendencies and has included in each chapter a quote from a child of that particular sign with their views on life or themselves. There is a spinner wheel on the back page which gives the elements for each sign and the book is indexed with tabs so that it is easy to find any particular chapter. I cannot remember the last time I saw a book so beautifully illustrated, and as I read it I found myself making a list of friends' children who might like it for a present.

Astrology for youth doesn't get any better than this engrossing guide. Readers can spend minutes or hours matching their friends and family to their astrological sign and reading the characteristics. What matches and doesn't depends on how well you know the person. Believe it or not readers are easily enticed to read about their signs in this cool formatted guide.

From School Library Journal   Gr 5-9-An old topic is entertainingly presented in a sturdy, spiral-bound package. Index tabs labeled with the 12 zodiac signs begin with Aries and end with Pisces. The 10 pages devoted to each sign describe the dates covered; features of that time of year; and the personality and social traits of the people born under that sign. Brief sections tell of the mythical characters represented by the astrological signs and their ruling planets. Each chapter concludes with a selection of famous people born under the sign and fictional and cartoon characters who exhibit its personality traits. A page sports a zodiac wheel with a window that can be turned to reveal each sign's color(s), day of the week, metal, precious stone, and element. Use of words such as "dissed" and "rent" give the text a more contemporary air than most treatments of the subject. Numerous funky cartoon illustrations and purple font add to the book's attractiveness.-Ann G. Brouse, Steele Memorial Library, Elmira, NY Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.