‘Incandescently, radiantly, resplendently brilliant!
It’s a dazzling delight that will truly shine on your bookshelf.
Full of feeling, friendship and fulfilment brought to life and beautifully realised with the finest of writing and illustrations.’
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Title: Star in the Jar
Author: Sam Hay (@samhayauthor)
Illustrator: Sarah Massini (@SarahMassini)
Publisher: Egmont (@EgmontUK)
Page count: 32
Date of publication: 11th January 2017
Series status: N/A
ISBN: 978-1405284301
Perfect for: Nursery, Reception, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 & Year 4
#3Words3Emojis:
1. Charming ☺️
2. Heart-warming 💝
3. Uplifting 🌟
Up high, in the dark, dark sky . . . a message: LOST, ONE SMALL STAR.
When a little boy stumbles across a special star, he puts it in a jar and takes it on adventures.
But the poor star misses its home…
Can the little boy and his big sister find a way to send the star safely back?
The first line:
My little brother likes looking for treasure.
Review: As soon as I opened this book and began to read, my eyes lit up and my heart warmed at the sight of these beautifully-drawn illustrations that help to really set itself apart from many of its contemporaries. This story is both preciously told in word and beautifully depicted in picture which combine to make it an absolute joy and pleasure to behold. Bringing plenty of warmth and light, it really does give us the little lift we all need!
Star in the Jar opens with both main characters playing within one of many of Sarah Massini’s richly distinctive, vivid and characterful double-page spreads.
Narrated through the eyes of his older sister, we start to see that her younger brother loves nothing more than to rummage through absolutely everything searching for all kinds of treasure (‘Tickly treasure… glittery treasure… even litter-bin treasure!’). One day, he finds himself a solitary star. However this is not just any star, this is a star so special he knows that it must indeed belong to someone else.
After tirelessly trying to track down who they think may be it’s proper owner, he keeps it safe enclosed within a jar and fondly befriends it by choosing to take it everywhere(!), in turn becoming increasingly attached to it.
Whilst marvelling at the night sky one evening, he realises the star is not quite as happy as he and so sets out to return it to its rightful home.
At first… slightly unconventionally.
And then with the bright ideas of his older sister…
But ultimately, does losing his star mean that he loses his friend too?
I am sure that this will be both a clear winner and a resounding success at story time. For children, parents & teachers alike will no doubt cherish this tale so much that they find themselves coming back to enjoy reading it time and time again. This story will keep putting a starry feeling in your heart and after reading this, children in your class and at home will be wishing for their own star in a jar.
One that I will be highly recommending to teachers and schools to share. Several schools that I visit utilise a praise system whereby pupils place a star in the jar for demonstrating positive behaviour and so this would definitely enhance and complement that practice.
An exceedingly enchanting story that encapsulates both the awe and wonder of the stars, the night sky and of the unique bond between siblings. So much so that I can really envisage this book being both a superb choice and a thoroughly rewarding experience for older children to read to their younger siblings.
Incandescently, radiantly, resplendently brilliant.
It’s a dazzling delight that will truly shine on your bookshelf.
Look, even Brian May agrees!
A huge thank you so much to Sam Hay for sending me an early copy of this stunning book. You’re a star! 💫
Star in the Jar is available to order now online or from any good bookshop.
‘Incandescently, radiantly, resplendently brilliant!
It’s a dazzling delight that will truly shine on your bookshelf.
Full of feeling, friendship and fulfilment brought to life and beautifully realised with the finest of writing and illustrations.’
Mr E
📚
thereaderteacher.wordpress.com 