Random House | 978-1984892706
“The world had been dark for a long time… Every morning, the girl fed the fish and waited for things to be different.
But every morning, the world stayed the same.”
So begins THE STARKEEPER, written and illustrated by Faith Pray. Could there be a more perfect book for a year such as this? While publishing a picture book is generally a process of years, not months, it surely does seem that this is a book made especially for this time. Because haven’t there been days in 2020 when it seems that the world has been dark for a long, long time? Haven’t we wondered how things might change and when that might happen?
As we near the end of a long year, this is a book of light and hope. Beautifully illustrated with watercolor wash and colored pencil, THE STARKEEPER is about a young girl who tires of the darkness and bravely wishes the lonely dark away. Her enormous wish brings a small and perfectly beautiful star.
© Faith Pray CLICK to ENLARGE
At first, the young child wants to keep the star hidden, but she quickly senses that a star mustn’t be kept away. Still and all, no one seemed to notice the hope she cradled in her arms. “The girl and the star felt small.”
Thinking herself unequipped to be a starkeeper and ready to give up hope, the child carries the star to a quiet spot under a bridge. There, she discovers two children and the realization that even small acts of kindness can make a difference. She shares her sweater with these new friends, along with a tiny piece of the star.
Each new kindness causes the star to grow larger and rounder, more light and shine, than dark and dim. She realizes that there are lots of small somethings she can do. And so, she sets off to share tiny bits of star and hope with those she meets. The more she gives away, the more her star sparks and warms and grows. Star upon stars grow in splendor, and the world is changed, resplendent with light.
© Faith Pray CLICK to ENLARGE
To learn more about the inspiration and story behind the making of THE STARKEEPER, check out this lovely Friend Friday blog post on Kirby Larson’s website.
Readers can learn more about Faith on her website.
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