And the star goes right on the top....

Quote of the Day:

"I wrapped my Christmas presents early this year but I used the wrong paper  See, the paper I used said, 'Happy Birthday' on it.  I didn't want to waste it so I just wrote 'Jesus' on it."
                              - Demetri Martin

Title: Little Star
Author: Anthony DeStefano
Illustrator:  Mark Elliott




This charming Christmas tale tells the story of a little boy who receives the meaning of why stars are granted the privilege of highest honour as they are placed atop the Christmas tree.  One night the little boy is gazing out the window and he is trying to locate the bright Christmas star.  This encourages his father to tell him this charming narrative of a very special night long, long ago.

Little Star lives among a babbling cluster of big, bright stars that  engage in a lot of Twinkle talk. He is isolated and rejected by the other stars because of his size so he is a very lonely little star indeed.  He hears the other stars twinkle that one night soon, an incredible event is about to occur.  A king is to be born and the star that can shine the brightest will be richly rewarded.  The big stars shine and glow,  polish and preen for the big  upcoming event.  Little Star however gets passed over because of his size and insignificance in their sight.  Lo and behold the night arrives that the King is born and all the stars hurry to the competition to see if they will be chosen to be the brightest and best for him.  When they see him they are shocked to find that he is just a wee, insignificant baby, not a noble, proud king at all.  They feel that they had been tricked, a baby, a king indeed....so they zoom away grumbling and complaining all the way.

Little Star stays however because he recognizes that the baby truly is a king....a baby king...small and insignificant... just like him.  He makes up his mind to shine to the best of his ability and to bless that little baby King with all that he has to offer...which turns out to be everything he has.

The illustrations are beautiful and engaging.  This retelling of the nativity story is fresh and this book is destined to be a Christmas classic.   It brings a whole new meaning to the significance of the Star that sits and shines on top of your Christmas tree.  I highly recommend this book be added to your Christmas book collection.

About the Author:

Anthony DeStefano is an American bestselling author of A Travel Guide to Heaven,Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To, Angels All Around Us and the children's books, This Little Prayer of Mine, Little ... Wikipedia

Born: September 1965, United States of America

Education: St. John's University

About the Illustrator:

Mark Elliott is a graduate of New York's School of Visual Arts and an established artist in the illustration field for more than 20 years. He has worked for all of the major publishing houses including Harper Collins, Simon and Schuster, Scholastics, Holiday House and Penguin. He has worked with many talented and well-know authors such as Gail Levine Carson, Archer Mayer, Anthony DeStefano and Gregory Maguire. He's received a Christopher Award for his illustration in Andrew Clement’s "Extra Credit" and has been recognized for his work in Anthony DeStefano’s "Little Star". Mark's illustrations have been displayed in numerous shows and annuals. Also, as a contributor in today’s Pop Surrealism movement, Mark's gallery work appears in group and solo shows internationally. Mark's unique style is created through classical hand-painted work combined with contemporary warmth, playful realism and humour.

                                    Book review rating:  9  (Close to perfection!)

Read on and read always!  Have a wonderful, reading day!