Stars Above Us - Geoffrey Norman

Illustrated by E. B. Lewis
G. P. Putnam's Sons, 2009
$16.99
32 pages
For: kids
Rating: 4
Endpapers: Dusky blue

Amanda's father reads her bedtime stories, and comforts her when she's afraid of things. When she tells him she's afraid of the dark, he picks her up and shows her all the wonderful things that can be found in the dark - fireflies and the night sky, full of stars. Then he gets some glow-in-the dark stars and creates a night sky on her bedroom ceiling.

But that's only the beginning of the story. We soon discover that Amanda's father is "going away" for a long time. He reminds her of the connection in the sky, and that the North Star can be seen from anyplace in the world. When he calls her on the phone, you can see he is in army fatigues. He keeps reminding her to wish on "their" star.

And home her dad does come, it's afterquite awhile, but he does return. And she surprises him with lots of additions to the night display in her darkened bedroom.

A gentle but powerful story. And E. B. Lewis' illustrations, as usual, delicate and poignant and perfect.