Firefly Galaxy

by Sarah Nelson, Estrellita Caracol (Illustrator)

Overview

★ “Well-crafted ­collage art complements lyrical text to create a ­luminous read-aloud” – School Library Journal, starred review

Sofia and her siblings can hardly wait for nightfall — Sofia dreams of filling a jar with fireflies! As the stars begin to twinkle and an owl hoots nearby, Sofia and her family step into a magical summer night. As fireflies light up the dark like a glittering galaxy, will Sofia learn how best to protect these nighttime wonders?

• Celebrates the beauty of nature and outdoor exploration
• Endnotes include facts about fireflies and guidance on helping their habitats
• Inspires future planet protectors

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9798888590720
Publisher:	Barefoot Books
Publication date:	04/02/2024
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	10.00(w) x 9.75(h) x 0.34(d)
Lexile:	470L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 8 Years

About the Author

Sarah Nelson loves summer nights and firefly light. Her lyrical picture books are often inspired by nature and wonder. Sarah’s titles include Follow the Flyway: The Marvel of Bird Migration and the I Like the Weather series, both published by Barefoot Books. She lives with her husband in Minnesota, USA where she teaches English and writing to adult immigrants.

When Estrellita Caracol was a child, she loved stars, books and cutting out shapes from paper . . . and none of that has changed! She studied graphic design until she realized that what she liked the most was telling stories through her art. Estrellita lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with her son and three cuddly cats. She loves to travel and make collages with artists young and old wherever she goes.

Editorial Reviews

2024-02-03
Nature at night offers a magical experience—one, sadly, now threatened by humans.

Diego, Lili, Chico the dog, Papa and Mama, and the young narrator, Sofia, are eager to view fireflies. They must be patient and quiet, until suddenly, it’s “like the sky dropped in!” as the air fills with sparkles. Sofia isn’t content just to dance with the fireflies; the child sets out to catch one—and does. Eventually the narrator’s possessiveness (“mine all mine”) gives way to empathy, and Sofia frees the firefly and then “flies” off, “wild and free” with the other children and Chico. Text includes both rhyming verses and dialogue. The meter isn’t always consistent, and some phrasing is awkward (“The porch is hot / with wiggly feet”). In the charming, collagelike art, the hot oranges of sunset give way to violet, turquoise, teal, and navy shades. Colors form simplified flat shapes, without lines; vegetation is stylized. The narrator and Papa wear glasses; Mama, Lili, and Sofia are brown-skinned, while Papa and Diego are pale-skinned. Backmatter conveys a lot of information about fireflies, including why they flash and where they can be found, but nowhere are we told what the titular firefly galaxy is, and the visuals don’t clarify that term.

Glowing illustrations enliven this tale of nature’s delights. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews

Diego, Lili, Chico the dog, Papa and Mama, and the young narrator, Sofia, are eager to view fireflies . . . Glowing illustrations enliven this tale of nature’s delights” – Kirkus Reviews

★ “Well-crafted ­collage art complements lyrical text to create a ­luminous read-aloud” – School Library Journal, starred review

From the Publisher