A STAR SHINES THROUGH, by Anna Desnitskaya, Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Aug. 20, 2024, Hardcover, $18.99 (Ages 5-9)
A displaced family sets out to make a home in a new country in A Star Shines Through, a picture book by Anna Desnitskaya.
We used to live in a big city. In our apartment window was a star-shaped lamp, shining through the cold. I could recognize home from far away. But then the war began, and we left for another country. Everything is different here—the food, the language, even Mom and me. Today Mom bought us a package of scissors, glue, and cardboard. Can we make this place feel a little more like home?
Narrated by a young refugee, A Star Shines Through is based on the experiences of the author-illustrator, who left Russia with her family after the start of the Ukraine War. —Synopsis provided by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
There’s not a lot of text in A Star Shines Through, but the book doesn’t need it. Anna Desnitskaya’s straight-forward prose is perfectly balanced with her thoughtful illustrations, creating an emotional look at hope after loss.
Children will be drawn to Desnitskaya’s use of color, light and space, which set the tone throughout.
A Star Shines Through is a hopeful picture book that encourages empathy and understanding.
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