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As soon as you see one, there’s another, and another.
And the dark that comes doesn’t feel so dark.
What if you could have a star?
From acclaimed author Mary Lyn Ray and two-time Caldecott Honor winner Marla Frazee comes this tender, evocative—and profound—exploration of stars both near and far.
Illustrations and Outtakes from Stars
(Click on Images to Enlarge)
 I spend a lot of my time sketching and erasing. Eraser crumbs get all over the floor of my studio. |  When I do the finish, I use a very tiny brush and apply many, many layers of watercolor. Sometimes, after all that, I don't like how it turns out. |  Then I start all over again and do it in a different, and hopefully better, way. It can be frustrating. |
 Like when my son saw this painting, he asked, "Why are those kids reading in the dark?" |  So I did this one over too. And it only took three weeks! Sheesh. |
 This one took even longer to paint, what with all those snowflakes, each one different. |  I splattered over the top of it with white paint on a toothbrush. (Not the one I brush my teeth with.) |  And finally, these fireworks were done not with an eraser, tiny brush, or toothbrush, but with... gel pens! |
--Publishers Weekly, August 15, 2011, *STAR
*"Ray’s simple ode to stars is an engaging concept book.... Frazee’s deft sketches of a diverse array of young children, scattered on white or mottled blue pages, are both playful and evocative.... [Stars] celebrates everyday experiences of children, prompting observation of the world around us, and it’s beautifully structured for eliciting children’s conversation and response. There are bits of humor and poetry, an engaging cast of players/star watchers, and many possibilities for pairing the book with crafts, activities, and other books, too."
--School Library Journal, October 2011, *STAR
"Most of us rarely take time to notice the twinkling lights that adorn the sky on clear evenings, but Mary Lyn Ray’s Stars reminds us of the wonder that surrounds us—night and day. Caldecott Honor recipient Marla Frazee’s soothing graphite and gouache illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to the quiet, gentle text.... This stunning collaboration between writer and artist gently reminds us that shining stars bring beauty to the world. Stars will encourage young readers and listeners (and their parents) to gaze with new appreciation at the night sky."
--BookPage, October 1, 2011
* "Stars. Who hasn’t looked up in the sky and contemplated their magical presence?.... The winning combination of Ray and Frazee crystallizes these ideas into a near-perfect picture book that encourages children’s minds to wander and wonder. The airy illustrations move across the pages like clouds in the sky, showing star shapes everywhere, even in strawberry plants, pumpkin vines, and snowflakes. In a final message, the book asks children to remember that stars are around whether you see them or not: “Every night. Everywhere.” Lovely."
--Booklist, October 15, 2011, *STAR
"Ray’s quiet, friendly narrative begins and ends with stars in the night sky.... This contemplative book has strong adult appeal, but kids too may appreciate the spot-on portrayal of child play (sticking a paper star on a shirt to be sheriff; maniacally waving a pretend wand while making a wish; stowing precious objects in their pockets) and enjoy the lovely ruminations about nature and the night sky."
--The Horn Book, November/December 2011
"Does anyone illustrate the facial expressions, postures and movements of children with the same gloriously authentic exuberance as Marla Frazee (“The Seven Silly Eaters,” “Everywhere Babies”)? Here, a star takes many forms—in the night, on a wand, as a snowflake or in the wilds of a young imagination.... Ray (“Mud,” “Red Rubber Boot Day”) grounds her text in the everyday experiences of young children. “A star is how you know it’s almost night,” she explains. “And the dark that comes doesn’t feel so dark.""
--The New York Times Book Review Children's Bookshelf, October 16, 2011
"A poetic paean to stars both real and metaphorical brings the heavenly down to readers without robbing it of mystery. Calmly and directly, Ray addresses the reader in this gentle, somnolent narrative.... Like a lulling tide, the text moves easily between grounded practical advice...and naturalistic metaphor.... Frazee excels at illustrating textual details in fresh ways, keeping young children engaged and curious.... Her pictures ebb and flow with the text, alternating charming spots of self-possessed, spirited youngsters with ink-black or gloriously blue, starry heavens inviting dreamy meditation.
Ideal for bedtime, this will shine on through repeat readings."
-Kirkus Reviews, April 15, 2011
* "Mary Lyn Ray’s Stars...splendidly treats its subject with the matter-of-fact openness of childhood reminiscent of classics such as A Hole Is to Dig.... Physically, the book is a thing of understated beauty.... This is the kind of bigger-than-it-seems book that exemplifies picture books at their finest. Young dreamers in particular will appreciate the imaginative approach, and they’ll especially enjoy experiencing this fanciful rhapsody as a bedtime book—especially if shared by flashlight in the warmth of a summer night under the stars."
-The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, December 2011, *STAR
"From tiny white strawberry blossoms in the spring to snowflakes in the winter, from the tip of a wand to the points of a sheriff’s badge, from the shape you make when you turn a cartwheel to the twinkling night lights in the sky, stars are all around us. We only have to look, this dreamy book tells us."
--Washington Post Best Children’s Book 2011
"The simple, hand-lettered text of “Stars” reinforces the child-centric focus, and the illustrations, which vary from diminutive vignettes to sweeping panoramas without a soul in sight, capture the extraordinary attention children often pay to ordinary things.... That sense of abundant and abiding light is no small gift to give during the long dark months of winter.”
--The Washington Post, December 7, 2011
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Suitable for kids trough early elementary,
By
This review is from: Stars (Hardcover)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Being a former elementary art teacher, who often used books to begin classroom lessons, I can see the educational value of this simple, but delightful book on STARS. It goes beyond the heavenly or galaxy meaning, offering the shape and other items found in the world that reflect the star qualities. That is a mind stretcher for children age 3 through 9. They need that mental encouragement. With this book on the home shelf, parents and grandparents can take a hand in the advancement of ways to see beyond the obvious in nature and science. It is a multi-curricular book.The cover, with exception of the title word, is one of the full page pictures on the inside of this book. The art illustrations are a watercolor form with a graphite drawing added once dry. More of an art style than a cartoon look. It is a professional and child-pleasing form to deliver the story. It's the quality one would expect from a book division of Simon and Schuster. Will this become another Caldecott award winner from book illustrator Marla Frazee? The children represented in the story's drawings are generic enough that one does not have to deal with nationality or ethnic issues. They are just kids, and they find stars in all kinds of wonderful places that offer opportunities to talk with a child listener. What else might they see there? Where else can a star shape be found? These are learning questions perfect for Dad, Nana, Sister, or teacher to present to a child reading for themselves, or being read to, depending upon age. The large 8.5 x 12.5 size gives the book added wonderment to young children. It states there is an ebook edition available, but for my money, I'd vote on the real deal. It comes with a hard cover with the colored cover drawing PLUS a dust jacket that has the cover child and title slightly embossed. A good gift idea of a child, or for a family of children, as this story is ageless and will be appropriate as long as the stars are in the sky. Grandparents, like me, should have one ready on their home self, as it's a quick read for grandkids, not requiring a l-o-n-g attention span. And if you know an early elementary teacher, they could use it in class, and will thank you for the resource material. Most teachers have to buy these type of books for their own classroom, I know! Get one to have your child give as a teacher's gift. No special occasion is necessary.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Frazee's playful illustrations reach for the stars...,
By
This review is from: Stars (Hardcover)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
I'm a fan of Marla Frazee's illustrations - All the World and especially Everywhere Babies - so I eagerly anticipated receiving Stars through Amazon Vine.My initial impression is that while it's not my favorite of the three Frazee books I've read, it's a sweet addition to my daughters' library (my oldest is almost two and a half), and I look forward to reading it often with them. I like that the print in the book is handwriting - that, combined with the many pages of children on mostly white backgrounds, reminded me a little of Malika Fouchier's Lala. I also like that the characters have cute and distinctive outfits - little red cowboy boots, three pigtails, striped leggings. This might make the book seem slightly dated in years to come, but that's not a bad thing. I like the simple story and the idea - one simple subject, elaborated. It's particularly good for my two-and-a-half year old, who is at the age where it's still a wonder to her that the same word can have so many different meanings, and where she's beginning to make obvious word associations and participate in conversations. A few days after getting sick from being spun "so fast" on a swing, I told her I would cut her nails "so fast" - and she warned me, "I might throw up..."). I love Frazee's playful, swirly, rolling illustrations - some of my favorite pages in the book are the ones where her illustrations have the space and subject to be the most dynamic, like the strawberry-and-pumpkins page, where the horizon seems to follow the twist of the wind, and the dandelion pages, where the little tufts become a giant spiral in the sky. Maybe it's a little greedy of me, but I wish there were more full- and two-page spreads in the book! Still, I can't say there's any skimping on illustrations. If I could, I'd give it three-and-a-half stars; overall, I think it's sweet and will lead to many fun discussions with my girls.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
We've Read This 62 Times Already,
This review is from: Stars (Hardcover)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This is a great little book that is a celebration of, well, stars. As the book says stars are like your best rock, but different because stars are different than rocks. That's just simple good advice. Its a quick read but it has a great story to it. My three year old loves "star book" we read it every night - multiple times. The illustrations compliment the story very nicely too.Children books are always hard for me to review it seems like because they are so short - but this one has great illustrations and a great little story to it. It made my daughter want to go to the store to buy scissors and shiny paper so she could have a star for her pocket too. That means she's listening. Great book.
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