The Starkeeper

by Faith Pray

Overview

A fallen star and one child's kindness lead to a chain of good works that change her town from a dreary, dark place to one of dazzling brightness.

When a girl finds a fallen star, she decides to keep it hidden. But this star encourages kindness and needs to shine, so it comes out from the shadows. At first the glow from the star starts to fade, and the girl worries--maybe she's not a very good starkeeper. Then a chance gesture of kindness seems to brighten the star, and soon this kindness leads to a chain of good works that light up the once-dreary town.

The art of the book follows the star's journey and lights up more and more with each act of kindness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781984892706
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	06/09/2020
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.70(w) x 9.60(h) x 0.40(d)
Lexile:	AD480L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

FAITH PRAY (yes, that's her name by marriage) is an author-illustrator from the Pacific Northwest who regularly wrangles four wildebeests (twins plus two) and two cats. She is passionate about books, literacy, and rainstorms. Coming from a family of artists, when a stroke left this young mother struggling to find herself as a writer again, she started making art. She works in pencil and watercolor with a sprinkling of digital magic on top. For more information, go to faithpraybooks.com, and follow @faithpray7 on Twitter and @faith.pray on Instagram.

Editorial Reviews

05/18/2020

Wishing for something to drive “the lonely dark away,” a girl finds a glowing orb in a village fountain. It’s a star, and it’s up to her to find out how to keep it shining brightly. Loose, spontaneous lines capture the child’s glossy black hair, red skirt, and yellow boots, and the kitten that accompanies her. The girl’s first efforts at starkeeping falter, with Pray’s narrative voice capturing the suspense: “The star was gloomy now. Shrinkier. Wilted.” Then the girl discovers that sharing makes the star brighter. She offers her sweater to a younger child, comforts a grieving woman, and distributes loaves of bread to the hungry. The lesson about generosity isn’t new, but Pray keeps it fresh with unexpected twists: the idea of the unearthly object that’s sustained by good deeds adds intrigue, and the story unfolds not in bright sunshine, but in the dark and the rain, offering a backdrop for the star’s warm light. The girl’s winsome expressions draw readers in, and the glowing star symbolizes the power of good deeds, no matter how small. Ages 3–7. (June)

Publishers Weekly

Illustrations elevate this tale of hope and empowerment.” —Kirkus Reviews

“An overall uplifting story that shows the effect caring, sharing, and connection can have on individuals and a community.” —Booklist

“Fresh with unexpected twists. . . . The girl’s winsome expressions draw readers in, and the glowing star symbolizes the power of good deeds, no matter how small.” —Publishers Weekly

“An uplifting story of kindness and perseverance. . . . The story’s message can be applied to a variety of difficult situations where positivity and compassion are needed, and is presented in a way that’s easy for young readers to understand.” —School Library Journal

From the Publisher

06/05/2020

PreS-Gr 2—In this uplifting story of kindness and perseverance, a little girl wishes away the dark of the world and is given the gift of light. As a starkeeper, she sets out to share her light with others in need, and though the task is difficult at first, she ultimately succeeds in spreading light around the world, little by little. The story's message can be applied to a variety of difficult situations where positivity and compassion are needed, and is presented in a way that's easy for young readers to understand. Simple, straightforward prose makes for a pleasing read-aloud experience, and soft, atmospheric pencil and watercolor illustrations complement the text; the girl is depicted in bright colors while the world around her is initially shown in tones of gray, and then bathed in gentle colors as she and others share the light. VERDICT Themes of compassion, generosity, and determination make this gentle book a lovely first purchase for picture book collections.—Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Lib., CA

School Library Journal

2020-03-29
A young girl finds a way to make her star shine.

A black-haired, brown-skinned child simply referred to as “the girl” walks in a rainy village accompanied by a gray tabby cat. She finds herself enveloped in a “world” that has “been dark for a long time. Rainy. Lonely. Dark.” One day she makes an “enormous wish. She wished the lonely dark away.” The next day she finds a star by the village’s fountain. “It was beautiful and warm and perfect.” Soon after attempting to hold it in her coat the girl realizes that it refuses to be hidden, but even in the open it is quickly losing its shine. The girl makes several futile attempts to revive it, but her numerous calls for help to the community are left unanswered. It is when she finds other children in need and decides to help and share the star that its light begins to shine brighter. A few idiosyncratic word choices (“shrinkier,” “glowy”) occasionally disrupt the flow of the narrative. However, Pray’s textured line drawings are alluringly filled with pastel colors. Initially the pages are saturated in dark blues and grays, but as the girl’s acts of kindness expand to others in her diverse community, the colors transform to a brighter tone. Pray lets readers know of their inherent power to bring about positive change, no matter their size.

Illustrations elevate this tale of hope and empowerment. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews