by Lesley Harker

Scholastic, August, 2001.
Picture Book, 24 pages.
ISBN: 0439296560
Ages Baby-Preschool

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star is a completely surprising new picture book. Using a nursery rhyme classic known by all English speaking children, the illustrator takes the rhyme a step farther by showing the children looking out their bedroom at a shining star (quite literally, as the star is printed on foil). We see the older of the two children with his atlas looking up at the stars under the kindly gaze of the family dog. The star appears shining on each page as a guide.

Miraculously, the children and their dog are somehow able to follow the star outside and we can see the little town of Bethlehem right under the star. On the next page, we see quite a few other well known characters in the Christmas story following the ever shining star. We see all of the shepherds and wise men looking at the map along with the older child and the younger child, still in its stroller. Even the family dog has somehow made the trip, a fact which will please all children looking at the book. On the last page all have arrived in a happy and loving crowd at the manger where a small baby lifts up its hands toward all.

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star is an inspired combination of the familiar children's rhyme with the Christmas story. This beautiful and tender book will forever implant the poem and the event in the mind of a child.

--Sarah Reaves White

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star is available for purchase on Amazon.com

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This review was published in the February, 2002 of The Internet Writing Journal.

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