Review by Booklist Review
A young red-haired girl has always wanted to stand out, to be special, to be a star. No matter how or what she tries, her older sister always comes out on top. Whether it's knitting a gift for a grandparent, locating a lost ring, or entering a costume contest, the younger girl feels second best. During a talk with her grandfather while they gaze at the night sky, she learns that, because of an explosion, stars, planets, flora, and fauna came into existence: Everything and everyone is made of stardust, he tells her. The engaging illustrations show the girl, with star barrettes in her hair, enchanted by the constellations. Her bedroom is decorated with a planet mobile, a globe, a telescope from her grandfather, and books about the universe. Pictures of cozy, lamplit rooms and a glowing fireplace give off almost palpable warmth, as does the love of her extended family. After she understands that she is made of stardust, she learns to shine her own light.--Maryann Owen Copyright 2019 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-No matter how hard she tries, the young girl in this title is always in her older sister's shadow. Her sister is the star who always gets the accolades. Granddad saves the day and her self-esteem when he reminds her that she is a star and gives her a brief introduction to the Big Bang. He reminds her that she and her sister and "everything and everyone is made of stardust." Illustrations capture the mood of this title and complement the narrative. For example, in the section of the story about billions of stars, there is a spread that depicts a plethora of stars and Granddad and the girl in miniature below. This book wraps up with "Shine in your own way. Because, remember. you are made of stardust, too." This is a feel-good title for any child who feels like they don't measure up to an older sibling. VERDICT A lovely selection for all libraries serving children.-Robin Sofge, Prince William Public Library System, VA © Copyright 2019. 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 Horn Book Review
In this warmhearted story, a girl feels she'll never shine like her older sister until her grandfather briefly (and simply, for preschoolers) describes the birth of the universe and the stars: "Everything and everyone is made of stardust." Appealing, detailed illustrations encourage repeated perusals, with the final pages hinting that the little sister indeed finds her way to shine (as an astronaut in adulthood). (c) Copyright 2019. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A little girl caught in her big sister's shadow comes to see her inner light. The text's unnamed, first-person narrator struggles as the younger sibling to a talented elder sister, whom other family members refer to as a "star." She wants to be a star, too, but she always seems to come up short. Her big sister wins a costume contest, finds her mother's lost wedding ring, and knits a scarf without holes. Finally, her grandfather notices the protagonist's dejection, and he helps her see herself as a star, too. This help arrives, in part, through a science lesson reaching back to the Big Bang that tells her how she, like all living things across time, is literally made of stardust. Illustrations in these scenes fantastically depict the girl accompanied by her grandfather in outer space, under the sea, and so on. This loving interaction allows her to adopt her inner stardust as metaphor for how special she is, a heartfelt connection that the protagonist accepts but that may underwhelm readers. The book's end, however, reveals that the confidence this understanding inspires propels her to become an astronaut. Throughout, all main characters in the full-bleed illustrations appear white with pale skin, though background characters in a few scenes are depicted as multiracial and multiethnic. Warm and light. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
