You Are a Star!

PreS-K–Parker offers a charming explanation of the theory that we are made of star stuff, but the gentle simplicity of it begs for a technical elaboration that unfortunately is not provided. With spare text that is reminiscent of a parent talking quietly to a child at bedtime, the author tells the story of how the Earth came to be: a star heated up until it exploded, and the bits and pieces flew through space, some coming together to create all parts of our planet, including us. The idea of interconnectedness, that the night sky doesn’t have to seem so vast and distant because we are a part of the stars residing there, is very comforting. Too much information would detract from the book’s sweet appeal, but some kids will inevitably ask for a more scientific explanation, and they will not find it on the page of random facts at the end. Still, that’s just a complaint of convenience. Overall, this is a soothing presentation for the younger set, a pleasant jumping-off point for a more in-depth exploration of our planet’s beginnings. Rossell’s illustrations, created with a variety of mediums, are initially centered on cream-colored pages sprinkled with watermarks of stars, but when the child is invited to soar into the night sky, the pages are completely awash in midnight blue and antique drawings of the constellations. A soft, thoughtful presentation.–Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR