Twinkle Twinkle Little Kid

After wishing a "secret wish" on a single star in the sky, tan-skinned Clyde goes to bed, only to be startled awake by the very same star, now in his bedroom and wishing on him. Pale, radiant Star defies gravity and has a sparkly, multihued aura, but otherwise resembles a human kid in both outfit (footie pj’s) and attitude ("Jeez! You have to scream like that?... You completely freaked me out!"). When Clyde is informed that he has the power to grant Star’s wish, he has to discern what the secret desire is-and, following a series of vignettes set against deep purple tones that evoke the wee hours, it’s eventually revealed that both characters have yearned and wished for the same thing: a friend. Though the dialogue can be long-winded, and the sum-up (the two "were never ever lonely again") seems a touch dubious, Daywalt (The Day the Crayons Quit) succeeds in lightening the heavy topic of loneliness with plenty of breezy banter. The real magic is in colored-pencil artwork by Idle (the Flora and Her Feathered Friends series), which has the visual drama and framing of classic animation, as well as a captivating celestial protagonist, who floats through the air with gymnastic nimbleness. Ages 4-8.

Copyright 2021 Publisher’s Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

This starts like many bedtime stories: There's a bright star in the sky and a white boy named Clyde decides to wish on it. Dejected that his wish doesn't immediately come true, he goes to sleep until the very star he wished on visits his bedroom window and starts to make a wish on him! From there, the writing style shifts into Daywalt's signature humor, as Clyde tries to guess what the star might have wished for. Finally, the star and Clyde discover that both of them had wished for a friend. The ending, while sweet, feels a little abrupt, perhaps because of a mashup of two writing styles that is not entirely cohesive. The early pacing and plot development is suitable for preschoolers, while the writing style ("Don't judge me! I'm not the weirdo climbing in people's windows!") seems aimed at an elementary audience. Tying it together is Idle's dream-like pencil art, rendered in deep purple tones, a perfect fit for the bedtime story plot. VERDICT This entertaining friendship tale is a solid choice for a mixed-age read-aloud.

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.