Synopses & Reviews
Fresh from her work on Frozen and Tangled, Claire Keane brings her legendary talent to her debut picture book about finding the right present for someone you love. Celeste wants to give her mother something specialbut what? Her search takes her up into the skies, where she meets the stars, the moon and the sun, but she still doesnt find the heartfelt present shes been looking for. At the end of her journey, Celeste sees itthe perfect gift! Chosen with care and wrapped with love, its just what Celeste was hoping to find.
In this story about finding unexpected inspiration and giving from the heart, Claire Keane invites readers on a magical journey through the clouds. The result is a visually stunning book that really and truly is the perfect gift.
Review
*"Ray (andlt;iandgt;Christmas Farmandlt;/iandgt;) and Frazee (andlt;iandgt;The Boss Babyandlt;/iandgt;), two big talents beating as one, assemble a cast of junior philosophers to help them muse on why starsand#8212;as celestial bodies, as shapes, as symbols, as talismansand#8212;hold so much meaning and mystery for us...while the prevailing tone is contemplative, itand#8217;s more quirky than languid, capturing the delicious freedom of Rayand#8217;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."andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; --andlt;bandgt;andlt;iandgt;Publishers Weeklyandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;, August 15, 2011, andlt;bandgt;*STARandlt;/bandgt;
Review
*"Rayand#8217;s simple ode to stars is an engaging concept book.... Frazeeand#8217;s deft sketches of a diverse array of young children, scattered on white or mottled blue pages, are both playful and evocative.... [andlt;Iandgt;Starsandlt;/Iandgt;] celebrates everyday experiences of children, prompting observation of the world around us, and itand#8217;s beautifully structured for eliciting childrenand#8217;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."andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; --andlt;Iandgt;andlt;Bandgt;School Library Journal,andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;/Iandgt;October 2011, andlt;Bandgt;*STARandlt;/Bandgt;
Review
"Most of us rarely take time to notice the twinkling lights that adorn the sky on clear evenings, but Mary Lyn Rayand#8217;s andlt;iandgt;andlt;bandgt;Starsandlt;/bandgt;andlt;/iandgt; reminds us of the wonder that surrounds usand#8212;night and day. Caldecott Honor recipient Marla Frazeeand#8217;s soothing graphite and gouache illustrations are the perfect accompaniment to the quiet, gentle text.... This stunning collaboration between writer and artist gently reminds us that shining stars bring beauty to the world. andlt;bandgt;andlt;iandgt;Starsandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt; will encourage young readers and listeners (and their parents) to gaze with new appreciation at the night sky." andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; --andlt;iandgt;BookPage, andlt;/iandgt;October 1, 2011
Review
andlt;bandgt;*andlt;/bandgt; "Stars. Who hasnand#8217;t looked up in the sky and contemplated their magical presence?.... The winning combination of Ray and Frazee crystallizes these ideas into a near-perfect picture book that encourages childrenand#8217;s minds to wander and wonder. The airy illustrations move across the pages like clouds in the sky, showing star shapes everywhere, even in strawberry plants, pumpkin vines, and snowflakes. In a final message, the book asks children to remember that stars are around whether you see them or not: and#8220;Every night. Everywhere.and#8221; Lovely." andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; --andlt;bandgt;andlt;iandgt;Booklistandlt;/iandgt;andlt;/bandgt;, October 15, 2011, andlt;bandgt;*STARandlt;/bandgt;
Review
"Rayand#8217;s quiet, friendly narrative begins and ends with stars in the night sky.... This contemplative book has strong adult appeal, but kids too may appreciate the spot-on portrayal of child play (sticking a paper star on a shirt to be sheriff; maniacally waving a pretend wand while making a wish; stowing precious objects in their pockets) and enjoy the lovely ruminations about nature and the night sky."andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; --andlt;Iandgt;The Horn Book, andlt;/Iandgt;November/December 2011
Review
"Does anyone illustrate the facial expressions, postures and movements of children with the same gloriously authentic exuberance as Marla Frazee (and#8220;The Seven Silly Eaters,and#8221; and#8220;Everywhere Babiesand#8221;)? Here, a star takes many formsand#8212;in the night, on a wand, as a snowflake or in the wilds of a young imagination.... Ray (and#8220;Mud,and#8221; and#8220;Red Rubber Boot Dayand#8221;) grounds her text in the everyday experiences of young children. and#8220;A star is how you know itand#8217;s almost night,and#8221; she explains. and#8220;And the dark that comes doesnand#8217;t feel so dark.""andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt; --andlt;iandgt;The New York Times Book Review andlt;/iandgt;Children's Bookshelf, October 16, 2011
Review
"A poetic paean to stars both real and metaphorical brings the heavenly down to readers without robbing it of mystery. Calmly and directly, Ray addresses the reader in this gentle, somnolent narrative.... Like a lulling tide, the text moves easily between grounded practical advice...and naturalistic metaphor.... Frazee excels at illustrating textual details in fresh ways, keeping young children engaged and curious.... Her pictures ebb and flow with the text, alternating charming spots of self-possessed, spirited youngsters with ink-black or gloriously blue, starry heavens inviting dreamy meditation. andlt;BRandgt; Ideal for bedtime, this will shine on through repeat readings."andlt;BRandgt; andlt;iandgt;andlt;BRandgt; -Kirkus Reviews, andlt;/iandgt;April 15, 2011
Review
* "Mary Lyn Ray's Stars...splendidly treats its subject with the matter-of-fact openness of childhood reminiscent of classics such as A Hole Is to Dig....
Review
"From tiny white strawberry blossoms in the spring to snowflakes in the winter, from the tip of a wand to the points of a sheriffand#8217;s badge, from the shape you make when you turn a cartwheel to the twinkling night lights in the sky, stars are all around us. We only have to look, this dreamy book tells us."andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;--andlt;iandgt;Washington Post andlt;/iandgt;Best Childrenand#8217;s Book 2011
Review
"The simple, hand-lettered text of and#8220;Starsand#8221; reinforces the child-centric focus, and the illustrations, which vary from diminutive vignettes to sweeping panoramas without a soul in sight, capture the extraordinary attention children often pay to ordinary things.... That sense of abundant and abiding light is no small gift to give during the long dark months of winter.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; --andlt;Iandgt;The Washington Post,andlt;/Iandgt; December 7, 2011
Review
"This ode to everything stars are (part of a wand, a pin that makes you sheriff, a sign youand#8217;ve done well) is paired with incandescent art showing the heavenly shapes in ivy, snowflakes and in your pocketand#8212;for wishing on."andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; --andlt;iandgt;People Magazineandlt;/iandgt;, December 19, 2011
Review
andlt;bandgt;*andlt;/bandgt; "Mary Lyn Rayand#8217;s andlt;Iandgt;Starsandlt;/Iandgt;...splendidly treats its subject with the matter-of-fact openness of childhood reminiscent of classics such as andlt;iandgt;A Hole Is to Dig.... andlt;/iandgt; Physically, the book is a thing of understated beauty.... This is the kind of bigger-than-it-seems book that exemplifies picture books at their finest. Young dreamers in particular will appreciate the imaginative approach, and theyand#8217;ll especially enjoy experiencing this fanciful rhapsody as a bedtime bookand#8212;especially if shared by flashlight in the warmth of a summer night under the stars."andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt; -andlt;iandgt;The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books,andlt;/iandgt; December 2011andlt;iandgt;,andlt;/iandgt; andlt;bandgt;*STARandlt;/bandgt;
Synopsis
A star is how you know it s almost night.
As soon as you see one, there s another, and another.
And the dark that comes doesn t feel so dark.
What if you could have a star?
From acclaimed author Mary Lyn Ray and two-time Caldecott Honor winner Marla Frazee comes this tender, evocative and profound exploration of stars both near and far."
Synopsis
You can draw a star on shiny paper and cut around it. Then you can put it in your pocket.
Mary Lyn Ray celebrates all the different aspects of stars, from stars that sparkle in the night sky to the ones that shine within each and every one of us. And Marla Frazee brings the joy of stars to life with her signature breathtaking art.
The Star Book is sure to be a treasured read by stars of all ages.
Synopsis
andlt;Iandgt;A star is how you know itand#8217;s almost night.andlt;BRandgt;As soon as you see one, thereand#8217;s another, and another.andlt;BRandgt;And the dark that comes doesnand#8217;t feel so dark.andlt;BRandgt;What if you could have a star?andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;From acclaimed author Mary Lyn Ray and two-time Caldecott Honor winner Marla Frazee comes this tender, evocativeand#8212;and profoundand#8212;exploration of stars both near and far.
Synopsis
A heart-warming and inviting picture book with a tenderly written story by Bernard Waber, and glorious illustrations by Suzy Lee,
Ask Me is the ultimate celebration of a childand#8217;s curiosity, and a father and daughterand#8217;s deep and abiding love for each other.
Synopsis
Ask me what I like?
What do you like?
A father and daughter walk through their neighborhood, brimming with questions as they explore their world. With so many things to enjoy, and so many ways to askandmdash;and talkandmdash;about them, itand#39;s a snapshot of an ordinaryand#160;day in a world thatand#39;s anything but. This story is a heartwarming and inviting picture book with a tenderly written story by Bernard Waber and glorious illustrations by Suzy Lee.
About the Author
Bernard Waber was the beloved author of more than thirty books for young readers, including Courage, Ira Sleep Over, and The Mouse That Snored. With the publication of The House on East 88th Street in 1963, his Lyle the Crocodile became a mainstay of childrenand#8217;s literature, and the adventures of this endearing reptile were featured in numerous books. Because of their honesty, their bravery, and their tremendous heart, his stories and illustrations have been beloved by generations of children