STAR GIRL

Can a little girl keep her favorite star?

Every night, Gracie can see her star shining brightly from her window. But in the morning, it’s always gone. She misses it, so one night she creeps into the nearby forest and climbs to the very top of the tallest tree. By stretching out her hand, she can just reach her star. She takes it home, but it loses its luster there. Gracie puts on her most shimmering outfit and dances all around, but this doesn’t bring the glimmer back. That night, she takes it outside, but when the sky lights up, her star remains dim. She puts it in the company of fireflies and sets it among sea stars, “[b]ut it just lay there sadly.” Finally, with all her strength, Gracie throws the star as far into the sky as she can. That night, her star is back, shining in the sky. Just as her star belongs there, she belongs at home, watching it. Littlewood’s tale nicely captures childhood imagination, and her watercolors lend it an extra layer of dreaminess. Blonde, pigtailed Gracie is an appealing blend of wonder and determination, and the landscapes she inhabits are lovely.

Warm and sweet.