TOUCH THE BRIGHTEST STAR

A nocturnal companion to Matheson’s Tap the Magic Tree (2013), this interactive picture book illuminates nighttime's wonders while shepherding readers toward sleep. 

Dusk falls in waves of pink, blue and purple watercolor; lightning bugs glow, stars twinkle and fall, deer skedaddle, constellations shine—all with the touch of young readers’ fingers. Rhymes offer clear instructions: “Now let’s blow a quiet breeze. // Pat the deer / and say goodnight, please.” An implicit sense of power (and even a hint of magic) follows each page turn, imbuing these soft, simple collages with a quavering excitement. With a whisper, the moon appears in the (now) very dark sky—a signal that it’s getting to be time for owls to go to bed and probably past time for little readers. A soothing, somnolent narrative voice nudges, “Close your eyes and breathe in deeply. / Nod your head if you feel sleepy.” Caregivers will surely appreciate the suggestion, as well as the gentle lesson in preparing for and accepting sleep. More learning lies on the final page, which delivers a glossary that offers rich information about the nighttime occurrences, animals and plants featured earlier.

A delightful bedtime book that encourages both imaginative play and restorative rest.