{"id":8036,"date":"2012-02-03T00:01:31","date_gmt":"2012-02-03T04:01:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=8036"},"modified":"2012-02-03T00:02:28","modified_gmt":"2012-02-03T04:02:28","slug":"review-of-stars-by-mary-lyn-ray-and-marla-frazee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=8036","title":{"rendered":"Review of Stars, by Mary Lyn Ray and Marla Frazee"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Stars<\/em><\/p>\n

by Mary Lyn Ray
\nillustrated by Marla Frazee<\/p>\n

Beach Lane Books, 2011. 36 pages.
\nStarred Review
\n2011 Sonderbooks Stand-out<\/a>: #1 Picture Books<\/a><\/p>\n

I’m normally not very touched by conceptual picture books trying to give readers a warm feeling. But Stars<\/em> is something special.<\/p>\n

I love Marla Frazee’s illustrations, and the children in this book have all the emotional expression of her pictures of Clementine<\/a><\/em>. The words point out how many different kinds of stars there are, from stars in the sky to stars on plants to fireworks.<\/p>\n

The illustration on the cover appears in the book accompanied by these words:<\/p>\n

“What if you could have a star? They shine like little silver eggs you could gather in a basket.<\/p>\n

“Except you know you can’t. Not really.”<\/p>\n

The next page begins a concept that carries on through further pages:<\/p>\n

“But you can draw a star on shiny paper and cut around it. Then you can put it in your pocket. Having a star in your pocket is like having your best rock in your pocket, but different.<\/p>\n

“Because a star is different from a rock.”<\/p>\n

Later, we’re told:<\/p>\n

“Some days you feel shiny as a star. If you’ve done something important, people may call you a star.<\/p>\n

“But some days you don’t feel shiny.<\/p>\n

“Those days, it’s good to reach for the one in your pocket.”<\/p>\n

Of course, the perfect marriage of words and illustrations enhance these words, as well as the appropriate vertical format.<\/p>\n

I think I may go make a star to put in my pocket.<\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Picture_Books\/stars.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from the Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

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