The Keeper of Stars

by Jennifer Harris, Dorothy Leung (Illustrator)

Overview

A timeless and magical story about the power of love and imagination

Every night Milo’s mom tucks him in and reads him three bedtime stories, and Milo taps his dad’s picture three times. Mom always falls asleep first, so Milo sneaks out the window, catches a ride on a comet, and travels far above the clouds to help the Keeper of Stars.

After a long day, the sky is a bit of a mess. Together, Milo and the Keeper of Stars gather up stray balloons and feathers, rinse and polish the stars (which would be easier if they weren’t so ticklish!), and sometimes, the Keeper of Stars lets Milo play games with the baby stars. When everything is tidy, the two hard workers enjoy a cup of cocoa together and admire the millions of bright twinkles in the night sky before Milo heads back to his room and slides into bed, careful not to wake his mom.

Spare text twinkles with warmth, imagination, and humor as a child finds his own way to cope with separation from a parent and whimsical, eye-catching illustrations bring this charming bedtime adventure to life.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781771475686
Publisher:	Owlkids Books
Publication date:	04/16/2024
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.25(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)
Lexile:	AD880L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

JENNIFER HARRIS lives in a little storybook house in Waterloo, Ontario, with her husband and children. Despite the overloaded shelves, they all firmly believe there’s always room for one more book. When not writing or reading—or thinking about chocolate—Jennifer is an associate professor of English at the University of Waterloo. She wishes on stars all the time, but so far hasn’t had a chance to play with them.

DOROTHY LEUNG studied and worked in architecture before following her dream of being an illustrator. Dorothy strives to evoke empathy, nostalgia, and wonder, and her work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators and American Illustration. After a long night’s work, she likes to settle down with a cup of tea and admire the stars before going to sleep. Dorothy lives near Tkaronto (Toronto) Ontario.

Editorial Reviews

"This gentle bedtime story is a reminder to find the light in the darkness."

From the Publisher

"The snug story is as comforting as it is captivating... The fanciful illustrations are transporting, with star-swept vistas and cozy bedrooms receiving equally detailed treatment, and the sprightly stars’ amusing antics are a joy to behold. A sparkling bedtime story that will set the stage for sweet dreams."

Booklist

"Reading The Keeper of Stars will leave young readers calm and intrigued, looking into the heavens for the big bear of Ursa Major and falling stars and even owls and bats in the night sky. And maybe even dreaming of their own celestial adventures."

CanLit for Little Canadians

2024-01-20
A bear in the heavens subs for a child’s father.

Each night, Milo reads stories with his mother and taps a photo of his dad three times. After his exhausted mom falls asleep, Milo hitches a ride on a fiery comet and cleans up the sky, which is filled with “balloons, stray feathers,” and, once, some “very unmanageable ducks.” Then Milo and the Keeper of Stars, a huge blue bear with a spangled coat, bathe and shine their five-pointed charges, who sometimes become a bit unruly. When Milo and the Keeper are done, they share sandwiches and cocoa and admire the sky. Returning home, Milo again taps his dad’s picture and gets into bed, knowing “the stars are always there…even when you can’t see them.” It’s never made explicitly clear where Milo’s father is, but the boy appears to be working his way through some complex emotions. This very subtle approach to a parent’s absence drags a bit in the middle, and little ones may not entirely understand how Milo’s devotion to star cleaning relates to his father. But the fantasy of floating out one’s window, soaring on a comet, and hanging out with a big guy in the sky is enthralling, sustained by the imaginative illustrations. Amid the colorful simplified characters, the bear is majestic. Milo and his mother are tan-skinned.

Some of the loftier themes may go over readers’ heads, but they’ll enjoy this journey through the cosmos nonetheless. (Picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews