About the Holiday

International Dark Sky Week (IDSW) was founded in 2003 by high school student Jennifer Barlow, who wanted to raise awareness about the problems caused by light pollution and invite people to make beneficial changes. The initiative is now managed by DarkSky International, an association founded in the 1980s by astronomers with the hopes of restoring the nighttime environment from the damage created by the excessive use of light. To learn more about DarkSky International and how you can help, visit them at idsw.darksky.org. Make sure to check out their Activity Page for kids crafts, activity pages, virtual nighttime and NASA tours, and ways that you and your family can get involved in citizen-science projects, and more!

Thanks to Eerdmans Books for Young Readers for sending me this book for review!

Who Hid the Stars?: How Light Pollution Changes Our World

Written by Danio Miserocchi and Maciej Michno | Illustrated by Valentina Gottardi | Translated by Sylvia Notini

Through their informative text, translated from Italian, Danio Miserocchi and Maciej Michno take readers on nighttime walks to see for themselves the types of artificial light that, while beneficial to humans are detrimental to many creatures. They begin with a short history of artificial light and define light pollution while Valentina Gottardi illustrates how outdoor light fixtures can be shielded for least-polluting effect.

In their chapter on birds, Miserocchi and Michno discuss how artificial light creates unnatural and even dangerous conditions for diurnal birds, who sleep at night; nocturnal birds, who need darkness to hunt; and night-flying migratory birds, who can get lost or confused by lights along their routes. Gottardi’s map showing the world lit up at night will fascinate readers while demonstrating how pervasive, bright, and intrusive artificial light is for migrating birds. The authors also reveal how some birds have learned to use artificial lighting to their advantage.

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Valentina Gottardi. Text copyright © 2026 by Danio Miserocchi and Maciej Michno. Courtesy of Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

A chapter on insects clearly explains how artificial light not only attracts nocturnal insects but how it confuses their natural flight patterns and why we see moths swarming around streetlights, porch lights, and other outdoor fixtures. An interesting spread on fireflies goes in depth on how and why they light up, their blinking communication codes, and all the ways artificial disturbs them. Children also learn how light affects bats, small mammals, amphibians, spiders, and even underwater creatures.

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Valentina Gottardi. Text copyright © 2026 by Danio Miserocchi and Maciej Michno. Courtesy of Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

It might surprise you that artificial light can even alter the growth and seasonal shifts of trees and plants. From plants’ blooming schedules to pollinator visits to vulnerability to disease and even to the impact on allergies, extended light exposure creates issues that affect us all. In closing, Miserocchi and Michno invite readers to look up at the nighttime sky and contemplate how many stars you can see. They then encourage us to take steps—even small steps—to reducing light pollution around our homes and neighborhoods.

Back matter includes a glossary, simple ideas anyone can do to reduce light pollution, and resources for learning more.

Illustration copyright © 2026 by Valentina Gottardi. Text copyright © 2026 by Danio Miserocchi and Maciej Michno. Courtesy of Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

Danio Miserocchi’s and Maciej Michno’s straightforward text is as engaging as it is informative. Not only do readers discover the harmful effects of artificial light pollution in general, but they learn about specific species of insects, birds, and other creatures and the various ways their habits and habitats—altered by light pollution—begin chain reactions with wide-ranging adverse results. 

Valentina Gottardi’s luminescent mixed media illustrations transport readers to nighttime landscapes, where her beautiful, nearly photographic images of a wide array of birds, moths and fireflies, bats, geckos and toads, fish and sea turtles will captivate nature lovers. Between chapters, Gottardi’s two-page spreads beckon readers to explore a darkened park dotted with glowing lamps, a city courtyard where street lights and apartment windows glow, and a glitzy boulevard, where the neon glare never sleeps.

Eye-opening science wrapped in nature’s nighttime beauty, Who Hid the Stars?: How Light Pollution Changes Our World is an impactful addition for classrooms, school and public library collections, and for all children interested in the environment and nature.

Ages 8 – 14

Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2026 | ISBN 978-0802856517

About the Authors

Danio Miserocchi is a coauthor of The Tomorrow Tree (Phaidon) and Who Hid the Stars? (Eerdmans). He is an Italian naturalist and teacher who works with museums and community organizations on conservation and biodiversity initiatives. Follow her on Instagram @daniomiserocchi.

Maciej Michno is an editor at Cocai Books, which creates educational, scientifically verified books focused on often-overlooked natural subjects.  His titles include Who Hid the Stars? (Eerdmans) and The Tomorrow Tree (Phaidon).

About the Illustrator

Valentina Gottardi has pursued her dual passions of art and nature since childhood. At Cocai Books, she serves as artistic director and designer for all projects, including Who Hid the Stars? (Eerdmans), and The Tomorrow Tree (Phaidon). Visit her here.

About the Translator

Sylvia Notini has translated over 200 titles from Italian into English, including Who Hid the Stars? (Eerdmans) and Sea Wonders (Princeton Architectural). Her translation of Just a Girl (HarperCollins) won the 2023 Mildred L. Batchelder Award, and her translation of Chickenology (Princeton Architectural) was a finalist for the AAAS Prize for Excellence in Science Books. Sylvia lives in Castenaso, just outside of Bologna, Italy. Visit her at sylvianotini.com.

International Dark Sky Week Activity

Look deep into the naturally dark night sky over Bryce Canyon National Park as Astronomy Ranger Kelly Ricks talks about the stars, the Milky Way, and the excitement of children seeing it all for the first time!

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