Star of the Sea: A Day in the Life of a Starfish
by Janet Halfmann (Author) Joan Paley (Illustrator)
With the ocean her home, an ochre sea star hunts for her morning meal. She folds over her rays and grips the rocky shore with sticky feet as she feasts on shellfish. When she takes too long, the tide flows back without her and Sea Star becomes easy prey. But she is built to survive and eventually makes her way back to the sea, although with one less ray than before. This inspiring story informs young children about the important role of a small but fascinating sea creature.
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Publishers Weekly
Poetic verse and vibrant collages characterize this tribute to starfish. Halfmann treats her heroine as an almost epic figure as the sea star ventures in search of food. "Like a circus acrobat, she folds over two of her rays and grips the rocky shore with her sticky feet." The starfish gorges herself on mussels before falling victim to a seagull's attack; thanks to her regenerative abilities, though, she'll live to hunt another day. In rich colors and textures, Paley's tide pool hums with life, while an afterword provides more scientific information about this echinoderm. Ages 5-9. (May)
Copyright 2011 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.School Library Journal
K-Gr 2--This colorful overview explains how the species is tied to tidal rhythms and serves both as predator and potential prey. After an unsuccessful attempt to feed on a limpet, the sea star settles atop a mussel and begins the slow process of wearing out its strength. After prying open the shell just a crack, she extends her stomach into it and ingests the mussel's body. Having escaped a fish's earlier attempt to eat her, the sea star is not so lucky when a gull snatches her by one ray and flies off. The gull bites through the ray, and the sea star falls back to the shore with only four rays. She reaches safety under some seaweed and will hide until the next high tide when the search for food begins again. Beautifully illustrated with textured collages made from hand-painted papers of watercolor blends, the underwater environment is vividly brought to life on every page. Two pages of concluding facts offer more about the sea star, including its ability to regenerate lost rays and other body parts. A short list of recommended reading and a four-entry glossary are also appended. A first purchase.--Frances E. Millhouser, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, Fairfax County, VA
Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
"Paley's beautiful artwork consists of collages of hand-painted papers of watercolor blends and textures." -"Kirkus Reviews
""Poetic verse and vibrant collages characterize this tribute to starfish." -"Publishers Weekly"""
Janet Halfmann is the author of more than forty books for children, including Lee & Low's Midnight Teacher, which Kirkus called "An excellent homage to an African-American woman who taught ahead of her time" in a starred review. When she's not writing, Halfmann enjoys working in the garden, exploring nature, visiting new places, especially wildlife areas and living-history museums, and watching movies. Halfmann lives with her husband in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Duane Smith was an artist, illustrator, and graphic designer with a degree from Pratt Institute in New York City and a Master's in Illustration from the Fashion Institute of Technology. His wide-ranging works have been featured in periodicals, books, movie storyboards, and galleries. Smith also worked in graphic design and interactive media development, and split his time between homes in Brooklyn and Albany, New York. He died in 2020.
JUV002170 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Marine Life
