It's Monday - Starlight, Starbright - New Book Celebration!

       Special Announcement! Nominations for Cybils awards are now open. Go here if you have a book that you want to be nominated. It must have been published from Oct. 16th, 2022 through Oct. 15th, 2023, in the US or Canada.

        Visit Kellee and Ricki at UnleashingReaders and Jen at Teach Mentor Texts to see what they and others have been reading! Your TBR lists will grow!   

         I am sharing a few other books at the end, but today I'd like to celebrate one new book by a friend, Matt Forrest Esenwine, and one that is out in the world tomorrow! I was delighted when Matt asked me to feature his newest book!

           I live in a city, filled with light, sadly it's artificial light, not starlight. I am able to see Orion's belt and sometimes the Pleiades (Seven Sisters) but little else. I grew up in a small town, and have wonderful memories of sitting and watching and learning the names of stars and constellations from a grandfather. Whether you are able to see or need to drive into the country to watch, Matt Forrest Esenwein's newest book will inspire you to stargaze, as soon as you are able! 

         As Matt's words offer the advice that the title promises, Sonia Possentini's vibrant illustrations let the stars light up the fabulous night sky! They begin with advice for one child to go outside, or take a friend, find a chair, or simply lie right down and start looking, enjoying counting the stars. Words also entice with names of constellations as Sonia's creations show the way those stars have been imagined for years into stories. Do you have a favorite constellation? Here's a peek at one page, showing some of the star clusters. Orion is there, fishes and scales, also the bull. 

Click to enlarge!

It's especially great to see the diversity of children included in the illustrations! My own memories of stargazing make me love Matt's new book but when this book reminds people, both adults and children, to go out for the first time or to remember how special it is to get out, I consider it a winner. It is a lovely book!

Here are Matt's words about how this book happened: I was inspired to write a poem about stargazing nearly 10 years ago, after four of my nieces and nephews were visiting us here in New Hampshire one summer evening. They walked out the door to head home and were amazed by the night sky - they live about 45 minutes outside of Boston, so they're not used to seeing so many stars, due to the city lights! 

I wrote the poem for an anthology initially, but it never made it in. After talking with my friend Rebecca Kai Dotlich, an incredible author/poet in her own right, she suggested turning it into a picture book manuscript, which I did. Glad I took her advice!

        Thanks again, Matt, for the advanced copy. Best wishes for your pub day!

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Here are books from last week's reading. You can see their reviews by clicking the link for Goodreads and scrolling down.

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Goodreads

Now Reading: Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kiss Your Ass, The Graphic Novel - Meg Medina, and The Lost Library - Rebecca Stead & Wendy Mass