When Molly Ate the Stars

by Joyce Hesselberth

Overview

A girl reaches for the stars, only to gobble them up in this enchanting picture book about selflessness, generosity, and friendship.

Have you ever tasted the stars? On a cold, clear night, Molly gazes up at the bright stars above, which look good enough to eat. If she could reach far enough surely it wouldn't hurt to try just one. Would it?

Luminous and dreamlike as a falling star, this gorgeously illustrated picture book is a modern fable that shares timeless truths—how the consequences of our actions affect those around us and how generosity and friendship glow brightest of all.

ENCOURAGES KINDNESS: This whimsical tale illustrates the importance of considering how our actions affect others and the enduring truth that happiness is more satisfying when shared.

A MODERN FABLE: This story reads like a classic fable with a quirky twist! Artful illustrations and a timeless story make for an unforgettable reading—and learning—experience.

ENCHANTING ART: Step into a dreamlike world created by acclaimed author and illustrator Joyce Hesselberth.

THE BEAUTY OF STARS: The starry night sky is both a beautiful image and a motif that captures the imagination. Little stargazers will love this book that captures the magic, mystery, and wonder of the stars.

Perfect for:
Parents and grandparents
Teachers and librarians

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781797211565
Publisher:	Chronicle Books LLC
Publication date:	09/06/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	44
Lexile:	AD500L (what's this?)
File size:	76 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

Joyce Hesselberth is an author and illustrator of children's books. In addition to writing, Joyce teaches illustration at the Maryland Institute College of Art, and she is the cofounder of Spur Design. As a kid, Joyce loved drawing fancy dresses adorned with stars. Years later, she remembered those starry drawings, and the idea for When Molly Ate the Stars took shape. Joyce lives with her family in Maryland. If you look up at the night sky, you might see some of the same stars that she does.

Editorial Reviews

2022-06-22
In this allegory about interconnectedness, a girl with a literal taste for stars inadvertently robs others of their light.

On a clear winter night, ginger-haired Molly reaches up to pluck a star from the sky—and finds it delicious. She crunches and gobbles until she feels “warm and bright, inside and out.” Commencing her evening walk, she encounters friends, who proffer a lantern, warming tea, and an invitation to a gathering. Molly rejects each offer; her captured stars provide all the light, warmth, and comfort she needs. She climbs to her favorite high point, where she realizes how her selfishness has deprived the now “dark and gloomy world” of its exquisite starlight. Hesselberth depicts Molly’s dress as a kind of cage: While the stars she’s consumed glow visibly, their luminosity doesn’t extend beyond her. Remorsefully, she uses a key to unlock her garment, returning the stars to the sky. Feeling empty, she retraces her route home but sees her four friends, sharing a telescope, a picnic—and community. Gratefully, she joins them as Hesselberth gently conveys a strong yet never heavy-handed warning against selfishness. The nocturnal palette of wintry purples and deep blues is accented with complementary tints of pale orange and yellow. Molly is light-skinned, and her friends’ faces are pastel blue, mauve, and butter-yellow, suggesting a hyperstylized diversity. Simple six-pointed stars glint across galaxies of gestural color. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Readers won’t miss the gracefully delivered message: Generosity and friendship triumph over greedy self-absorption. (Picture book. 3-5)

Kirkus Reviews