Review by Booklist Review
Straddling the thin line between fiction and nonfiction as comfortably as other entries in the Minna series, this picture book presents basic facts about stars within the framework of an appealing story. One evening, Minna and her friends visit a local museum's Star Space exhibit, where their guide helps them understand stars and galaxies before Minna's mother takes them out stargazing. The text offers accessible information and keeps the story moving along. Simple and effective, the collaged mixed-media artwork illustrates the dressed rabbit characters with thoroughly childlike demeanors and incorporates images of stars, planets, and galaxies in a natural-looking way.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2009 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 1-Wallace follows the same formula of combining factual information with kid-friendly artwork and upbeat dialogue that she used in Rocks! Rocks! Rocks! (2009) and Shells! Shells! Shells! (2007, both Marshall Cavendish), but without the same success. In this selection, Minna and her friends visit a space exhibit at a local children's museum to learn about stars. The book suffers from an identity crisis because the text is rather advanced for the young audience for whom the adorable cut-paper bunnies and backgrounds will hold appeal. The discussion of what a star is is particularly confusing. Also, the dialogue is somewhat forced, and the humor often falls flat. Furthermore, Wallace seems to stretch to create enough related projects. Stars! does contain some digestible factoids and neat pictures of space for the younger set. However, the conflicted and therefore confusing packaging of a challenging text and simplistic illustrations makes it an additional purchase.-Alyson Low, Fayetteville Public Library, AR (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Wallace's latest brings back Minna, who is curious about stars (Fly, Monarch, Fly!, 2008, etc.). Her mom suggests a star-themed dinner (recipes included), a trip to Star Space at the Children's Museum and some stargazing. Minna invites four friends along. Stellan greets them, asking each what they wonder about stars. The guide then leads them through the exhibits, answering their questions by asking them a few of his own. The basics are presented in easily digestible bites accompanied by interesting factoids. Among the topics explored: stars' composition, temperature, color, distance, how stars are named, stellar navigation, what astronomers do and constellations and galaxies. Backmatter encourages children to do many of the same things that Minna enjoyed doing. The illustrations are the author's trademark cut-paper collages, with the addition this time of photographs and computer-generated images of the galaxies, constellations, planets and sun. Make room on the shelf for this one. (Picture book. 4-8) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
