My Friend, the Starfinder [Hardcover]

George Ella Lyon (Author), Stephen Gammell (Illustrator)

Book Description

Dazzled,

a little girl listens

to her old neighbor's story

of following a falling star

when he was a boy.

He found it, too.

He put it in her hands.

But that's not all

the starfinder has to tell.

One day something

found him.

It's a story

too good to keep.

See for yourself.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Lyon and Gammell, the duo responsible for the memorable Come a Tide (1990), take on more feats of nature as a girl listens to a neighbor tell how, when he was a boy, he met up with a star and rainbow. Using his signature color washes for the parts of the story set in the present, Gammell moves to shades of gray when the story goes back in time. When the boy spots a star shooting across the sky, he follows it. He picks up the rock, which glints with gold, and keeps it until, as an adult, he gives it to the girl. Another time, the boy, lifted into the sky, starts turning colors—purple, red, green, yellow; he’s at the end of a rainbow. He can’t bring the rainbow home, of course, but he can tell the story. Lyon’s prose is lyrical as always (“cool / warm / striped / air”), though why she describes the comet as smooth as an egg (it is jagged in the picture) is unclear. Gammell’s energetic art, a mix of precise lines and hue-soaked swirls and shapes, captures both the everyday and the otherworldiness of the story. That said, some odd choices have been made here. By never showing the Starfinder’s adult face, the character seems strange, even menacing. Then there’s the abrupt ending, though an afterword helps finish the story. Despite the picture-book format, this isn’t for preschoolers, and even older children, who may be drawn by the dreamy premise played out in the evocative art, may be confused by the goings-on. Grades K-2. --Ilene Cooper

About the Author

George Ella Lyon has written many books for young readers including the award-winning picture book You and Me and Home Sweet Home, illustrated by Stephanie Anderson, which was named an Honor Book for the Jane Addam's Award; Mother to Tigers; No Dessert Forever!, both illustrated by Peter Catalanotto and Trucks Roll! illustrated by Craig Frazier. Her novel, Sonny's House of Spies, earned two starred reviews and was nominated for a Kentucky Bluegrass Award. George Ella lives in Lexington, Kentucky with her family. Find out more about the author visit www.georgeellalyon.com

Stephen Gammell is the beloved illustrator of more than fifty books for children?, including Song and Dance Man by Karen Ackerman, which received the Caldecott Medal; two Caldecott Honor Books, The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant and Where the Buffaloes Begin by Olaf Baker; and The Secret Science Project That Almost Ate the School by Judy Sierra. Stephen lives with his wife, Linda, in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Atheneum/Richard Jackson Books (February 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416927387
• ISBN-13: 978-1416927389
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #470,236 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars AN IMAGINATIVE STORY OF FRIENDSHIP, February 23, 2008

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: My Friend, the Starfinder (Hardcover)

Not only is this imaginative story a reminder of the wonders of our universe but perhaps most importantly it's the story of a friendship between a small girl and an elderly man. Thus, it is a reminder of what one generation can learn from another and a picture of the unique warmth of their camaraderie.

George Ella Lyon has dedicated this book to the memory of George Dean, the real life starfinder who once lived across the street in a house Lyon's grandfather had built. Just as he's shown in Stephen Gammell's arresting full page watercolor illustrations the author describes him as "tall, thin, kind, and bespectacled."

While his appearance seems ordinary, his experiences were most extraordinary and when he tells about them you believe him - almost.

This is a delightful tale that will not only pique the interest of young readers but also raise questions which may result in fruitful conversations between parent and child.

- Gail Cooke

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars my absolute favorite! :), February 6, 2011

By 

Keira L. Klein - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Friend, the Starfinder (Hardcover)

This short story is absolutely a delight! I am an avid children's picture book collector (yeah... I'm 25), and I'm quite sure it's fair to point this one out as being my most favorite ever. The pictures are absolutely stunning and the story is just so sweet! There really is a gorgeously lyrical poetry to the the text. With such artistically crafted words, I am always reminded to read this book slowly, to savor each word as it dances it's way out of my mouth and into the world. Truly a remarkable story! It's such a neat testament to see here how a children's book can be such an exquisite work of artistry!