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Holy Night and Little Star: A Story for Christmas

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Holy Night and Little Star: A Story for Christmas

eBookDigital original (NOOK Kids - Digital original)

$7.99

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eBook(NOOK Kids - Digital original)
$7.99

View All Available Formats & Editions

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Overview

CHRISTIANITY TODAY BOOK AWARD WINNER • A luminous and tender retelling of the Christmas story from National Book Award nominee Mitali Perkins, author of Bare Tree and Little Wind, that is sure to become a cherished holiday favorite for families of faith.

AN IMAGINATION SOUP BEST PICTURE BOOK OF THE YEAR

Little Star likes her usual spot in the night sky over Bethlehem. Every night, she twinkles above the hills and hopes that nothing will change. But one night, Maker gathers the galaxy! Holy Night is coming, and Maker wants the planets, Moon, and the stars to all take part.

As Maker doles out jobs, Little Star holds back, each new role sounding too hard or too scary. But when Maker eventually calls on her to shine, Little Star discovers she is ready and able to welcome the Child and joins the other stars and planets in celebration.

Khoa Le’s shimmering illustrations are the perfect complement to Mitali’s unique take on the Christmas story. Readers young and old will be captivated by Little Star’s journey as she discovers that Maker welcomes even the quietest gifts. Parents of faith will appreciate the message about the true gifts of Christmas and the foreshadowing of Jesus’ mission of salvation, making it a book families can enjoy together year after year.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593578056
Publisher:	The Crown Publishing Group
Publication date:	09/05/2023
Sold by:	Random House
Format:	eBook
Pages:	40
File size:	65 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Mitali Perkins has written many books for young readers, including Bare Tree and Little Wind. She has been nominated for a National Book Award, honored as a “Most Engaging Author” by independent booksellers, selected as a “Literary Light for Children” by the Associates of the Boston Public Library, and was invited to serve as a judge for the National Book Award and the Kirkus Prize. Mitali was born in Kolkata, India, before immigrating to the United States. She has also lived in Bangladesh, England, Thailand, Mexico, Cameroon, and Ghana, studied at Stanford and U.C. Berkeley, and currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Khoa Le is the author and illustrator of numerous picture books. She has been honored by the Singapore Book Council as the winner of the Grand Prize Samsung KidsTime Authors Award and the second runner-up of the Scholastic Picture Book Award.

Read an Excerpt

As the sky grew dark over Bethlehem, Little Star took her usual spot.
Every night, she twinkled above the hills, small and faint.
Other stars rose higher and shone brighter, but not Little Star.

She liked her low view.
She liked her soft gleam.
When newborn lambs opened their eyes, she was their first light.
I hope nothing changes, she thought.

But one night, big news spread through space.
Maker was gathering the galaxy!
Little Star pulsed faster.
What was happening?
Big changes? She hoped not.

From the B&N Reads Blog

Page 1 of

Editorial Reviews

09/22/2023
K-Gr 3—This quiet, unique retelling of the nativity story shows the perspective and perseverance of Little Star, a lowly celestial being who is nervous about her world changing due to Holy Night. Little Star loves her low place in the sky, shining her soft and gentle light. When Maker, a genderless abstractly depicted god, begins recruiting helpers from the sky, Little Star doesn't want to participate. However, come Holy Night, Little Star is relieved as heralding in a king and shining on the newborn messiah come naturally to her, especially as she looks into the eyes of the baby Jesus and sees her beloved Maker reflected therein. Characters and beings are not named (angels are "singers" and Mary and Joseph are "a young couple"), so readers unfamiliar with the Christmas story may not make the connection without scaffolding. As in Bare Tree and Little Wind, Perkins and Le bring religious stories to a broader audience, using straightforward, accessible language and short sentences. Stunning illustrations further enable this reach. Amid the dark palette and layered landscapes, the shining round faces of the sky beings stand out, adorned in sparkling head gear and flowing robes. Abstract colorful shapes that look like they could be found under a microscope float through the air, adding substance and mystique to the night sky. The holy family has brown skin and dark hair. VERDICT While it may not appeal to all readers, those already familiar with or curious about the Biblical nativity story will find a delightful read.—Clara Hendricks

School Library Journal

2023-08-12
A little star overcomes her fear and learns to embrace change.
It’s almost Holy Night, and Maker wants everyone—the planets, the stars, and Moon—to play a part. Little Star, who shines gently on newborn lambs, fears big changes are in store, and whenever Maker asks for volunteers for different tasks, she declines. Maker tells Little Star to be ready—she will have a special role. On Holy Night, everyone performs their roles brilliantly. Little Star joins in the shining chorus and sees that it’s not so hard after all. When Maker sends everyone off to Bethlehem, Little Star gathers her courage and sets off. On the edge of town, she stops at a stable where a Baby cries. She looks into his eyes and recognizes the Maker. Little Star stays by the stable, her gentle light soothing the newborn king as strangers come from all around. When she rejoins the celestial celebration, she sees that although everything has changed, Maker remains the same. Perkins’ touching tale makes the story of Christmas new while weaving in the positive message of trusting the constancy of Maker in the face of change. Le’s captivating jewel-toned illustrations and Perkins’ measured unspooling of story will charm readers and make them excited to read on. The Holy Family has brown skin. (This book was reviewed digitally.)
A unique retelling of the Nativity that will surprise and delight. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews