THE STARS WILL STILL SHINE

A rhymed, reassuring text with beautiful illustrations makes a presentation worth considering for the holidays or any time. “This new year” it begins, with a litany of things that will happen: “cows will have calves / kittens will sleep / flowers will bloom / (a promise they keep).” There will be peaches, ice cream, light in dark places, church bells. The short and simple prose runs in a single line along the bottom of radiant, light-infused illustrations. These move from countryside to cityscape, indoors and out, with a cast of families of many ethnicities (and a fair number of pets). In the spread that reads, “and in this new year / love will be strong,” a mom pushes her daughter on a swing hanging from a lovely old tree while their dog sits beneath. The flowers mentioned bloom in a city rooftop garden of pots, and “there will be goodness / there will be grace” underlines a family dinner with a checkered tablecloth and fruit for dessert. Small but strong. (Picture book. 3-7)