Like a Diamond in the Sky: Jane Taylor's Beloved Poem of Wonder and the Stars
by Elizabeth Brown (Author) Becca Stadtlander (Illustrator)
The story behind the classic and universally recognized rhyme! This luminous picture book biography shines a light on the little-known poet and author of the beloved lullaby.
Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.
Did you ever wonder who wrote that famous verse?
In the days when most girls were brought up to run a home, Jane Taylor had a different kind of education in the English countryside, where she was inspired by nature and the stars, and dreamed of becoming a writer. But in the late 1700s, it was not considered proper for women to be writers. Jane and other female poets were shunned, unable to use their own names when published.But Jane did write, and she never forgot her love for the beauty of nature and the glow of stars, or her desire to write for children. Her published poetry became universally known for generations to come: Twinkle, twinkle little star.
This lyrical and luminous biography shines a light on the unsung poet who wrote the words of our most enduring lullaby, and features stunning artwork reflecting the world, the stars, and the story behind the poem that we all know so well.
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Gr 2-5--Taylor, whose poem "The Star" eventually became the lyrics to the ageless nursery song, was homeschooled with her sister in the English countryside, where the garden, the meadow, and the night sky were part of their classroom. It was a world in which she felt poetry all around her. She worked in the family engraving business, but her real ambition was to be a published writer, an unacceptable goal for a young woman in the early 19th century. Taylor persisted in submitting her poetry under pseudonyms until an editor took an interest. In time, she was able to write under her own name and to support herself by writing primarily for children. Richly colored gouache paintings evoke the beauty of the rural world with a suitably old-fashioned formality. While the text succeeds in capturing an idyllic childhood in a nurturing family, the adult quest for publication is slowed by descriptions of nature and relies too frequently on star imagery. VERDICT This attractive book with its extensive back matter will be of most interest in collections looking for solid picture book biographies of women.--Jan Aldrich Solow, formerly Fairfax Cty. Public Sch., VA
Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.Publishers Weekly
A narrative nonfiction style and interspersed quotes distinguish this biography of Jane Taylor (1783-1824), a Romantic-era poet who wrote the lines that would become "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." Brown's lyrical lines trace Taylor's formative years in the English countryside, in which ample family support, a full education, and compassion helped Taylor and her sister Ann persevere, despite societal and industry obstacles, to become profitable authors. Gouache paintings of the all-white cast by Stadtlander have an intricate, vintage feel, reflecting Taylor's interest in nature with sweeping landscapes. Copious back matter, which includes an author's note and information on stars twinkling, fleshes out this edifying picture book biography. Ages 4-8. (Feb.)
Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
Praise for Dancing Through Fields of Color:
"Gorgeous." —Kirkus Reviews on DANCING THROUGH FIELDS OF COLOR
"A pitch-perfect expression of a little-known artist in text and illustration alike, this is a top-notch example of the picture book biography" —School Library Journal on DANCING THROUGH FIELDS OF COLOR "Brown uses lyrical text full of action words and ranges of color to describe this lesser-known yet influential abstract expressionist artist." —Booklist on DANCING THROUGH FIELDS OF COLORElizabeth Brown holds an MFA in creative writing from Goddard College, and she teaches writing and music. She is the author of Dancing Through Fields of Color and a forthcoming picture book biography of Aristides de Sousa Mendes. She lives with her family outside of Chicago.
elizabethbrownbooks.com@ebrownbooks Becca Stadtlander is an illustrator and a fine artist, inspired by the beauty of everyday objects, the comforts of home, and the lush colors and landscapes of far-off places. Her work is featured in many children's books, editorial publications, stationery, home decor products, and book covers. She lives and works in her hometown of Covington, Kentucky. beccastadtlander.com
@beccastadtlander
JNF007030 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | Literary
JNF023000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Girls & Women
JNF051040 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Science & Nature | Astronomy
Picture books
Authors, English
Taylor, Jane
