Monday, September 28, 2020

Review - The Starkeeper

The Starkeeper

by Faith Pray
Date: 2020
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 40
Format: e-book
Source: library

A fallen star and one child's kindness lead to a chain of good works that change her town from a dreary, dark place to one of dazzling brightness.

When a girl finds a fallen star, she decides to keep it hidden. But this star encourages kindness and needs to shine, so it comes out from the shadows. At first the glow from the star starts to fade, and the girl worries--maybe she's not a very good starkeeper. Then a chance gesture of kindness seems to brighten the star, and soon this kindness leads to a chain of good works that light up the once-dreary town.

The art of the book follows the star's journey and lights up more and more with each act of kindness.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

The Starkeeper is a sweet little book about kindness. An unnamed girl in a gloomy city makes a wish to chase the darkness away. She subsequently finds a star, and knows that she needs to share it. But nobody seems interested. The girl is about to give up when she realizes that small acts of kindness are the things that help the star's light to shine and grow.

The message is simple, but the illustrations are where this book really shines. The time period is ambiguous (as is the setting, although it looks distinctly European), but the characters are appealing and the whole book has a luminous quality that makes the little girl and her star shine.

Books about kindness seem to be becoming more popular. This would be a lovely one to add to that bookshelf.

Quotable moment:


Premise: 4/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 3/5

Overall: 3.67 out of 5

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