One of the simple pleasures of summer is star-gazing. The notion of a boundless sky can ignite children's imaginations.

On a cloudy night, these books might spark a similar glimmer in their eyes:

"Seeing Stars" (Little Simon, $9.99, ages 4-8) by Dandi Mackall and illustrated by Claudine Gevry. "Seeing Stars" connects the dots of the constellations. It shows Pegasus, Draco the Dragon and Big Dog, Little Dog both as they appear in the sky and in colorful cartoonish drawings.

"Constellations: A Glow in the Dark Guide to the Night Sky" (Sterling, $12.95, ages 5-8) by Chris Sasaki and illustrated by Alan Flinn. You might know the names of creatures such as Hercules and Gemini the Twins, but what about the backstory? Children and adults can read about the legends of the constellations and then get a firsthand view of them.

"Star Climbing" (Laura Geringer/HarperCollins, $15.99, ages 3-8) by Lou Fancher and illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher. When a young girl feels restless in bed, she trots off to visit her friends — who just happen to live high in the sky. There's Leo the Lion and Cygnus the Swan, and then she takes a trip on Pegasus' back.

"When You Are Happy" (Simon & Schuster, $16.95, ages 3-6) by Eileen Spinelli and illustrated by Geraldo Valerio. Everyone needs someone they can count on — good times and bad. This book doesn't specifically identify who that someone is, but when the reader is happy, the special friend lights up the sky with joy.

"Jack the Builder" (HarperCollins, $15.99, ages 4-8) by Stuart J. Murphy and illustrated by Michael Rex. Jack isn't content with piles of blocks arranged by size and color — he wants to build something fantastic. He starts off with an airplane and the world's highest building, but then he sets his sights higher on a rocket ship. This is a part of the MathStart series, which focuses on counting.

"Pajama Light" (Dutton, $16.99, ages 3 and up) by Gale Sypher Jacob and illustrated by Mark Graham. A girl and her father have an evening ritual: They stroll to a nearby lighthouse as the sky turns pink, red, purple and then midnight blue.

"The Night Is Singing" (Dial, $16.99, ages 4 and up) by Jacqueline Davies and illustrated by Kyrsten Brooker. Nighttime in this book isn't quiet; it's filled with music and song. A girl, clutching her toy bunny, listens at her window and enjoys the lullabies until she hears a different noise — that of mama's feet.

"Here Comes the Night" (Henry Holt, $16.95, newborns to age 4) Anne Rockwell. After teeth are brushed and a story is read, a boy and his mom have one more task to complete their bedtime routine — they say goodnight. They say goodnight to the backyard toads, to a tiptoeing cat and even a moth on the screen.

"The Midnight Unicorn" (Sterling, $14.95, ages 4-7) by Neil Reed. The statue of a unicorn in the park has a special place in Millie's heart. It's her kindness and love that brings the unicorn to life to take her on an unforgettable midnight journey through the sky.

"Joey and Jet in Space" (Athenium, $15.95, ages 2-5) by James Yang. Joey is a boy who lives to explore outer space. Jet is his dog. But Jet takes off, so Joey goes after him, checking out different planets and stars along the way.