The Stars: The Complete Guide

Ray (Christmas Farm) and Frazee (The Boss Baby), two big talents beating as one, assemble a cast of junior philosophers to help them muse on why stars--as celestial bodies, as shapes, as symbols, as talismans--hold so much meaning and mystery for us. There's not a lot of action, per se, although a spectacular sledding scene ("Snowflakes are stars") will remind Frazee fans of the visual agility of 2003's Roller Coaster. Rather, most of the vignettes are moments of reverie that come from staring at a night sky, sitting on a fence ("Yellow stars on pumpkin vines become October pumpkins"), or blowing on a dandelion (."..you blow thousands of stars into the sky). But while the prevailing tone is contemplative, it's more quirky than languid, capturing the delicious freedom of Ray's mind at play. Her prose wanders in the best sense of the word, and Frazee is happy to connect the dots and explore the detours, showing readers how stars can turn sticks into wands, cheer us up, or remind us, gently, of how much of the universe is beyond our grasp. Ages 2-6. (Oct.)

PreS-K--Ray's simple ode to stars is an engaging concept book. The invitation to appreciate stars begins and ends with looking for them in the night sky. In between are stars drawn on paper to wear as a sheriff's badge, mounted on a stick to make a wand, and kept in one's pocket. The distinctive shape is found in moss on a tree, blossoms on pumpkin vines and strawberry plants, and in winter's snowflakes. Frazee's deft sketches of a diverse array of young children, scattered on white or mottled blue pages, are both playful and evocative. Viewers of all ages can empathize with the lone child in a row of empty swings on one of those days "when you don't feel so shiny." "Blow a ball of dandelion and you blow a thousand stars into the sky." The closing view of children donning pajamas for a last look at the night sky suggests that this will be a pleasant bedtime reading choice, but the book offers many other sharing uses for parents, preschool teachers, and librarians. It 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.--Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston