Sarah Chisholm

There are so many reasons why I love this book. It is a hide-and-seek book that tells the story of a boy whose mother hides a toy star everyday until Christmas. It is his job to find the star each day. On each page, the toy star is hidden in the illustrations and the reader must also search for the star on the page. This is a great interaction book that gets the reader involved in the story. This one was of my favorite Christmas stories to read during Christmastime. I always enjoyed reading the story and searching for the star on each page, and I know other children will also find it enjoyable. There is a second version of this book that involves the sister of the boy. She looks for an angel doll hidden by her father everyday until Christmas. The language is descriptive and gets the reader in the spirit of Christmas, which is my favorite holiday and time of year. The writing is engaging, flows nicely, and paces well. There is not too much wording on one page, which is beneficial to young readers. The characters are very believable and well developed. The boy speaks in first person and talks about his experiences each day leading up to Christmas. Many of the events that take place are relatable to children, such as having a snowball fight, eating Christmas cookies, losing a tooth, performing in a church play, getting sick, and celebrating Christmas with your family and loved ones. I like that this is a hide-and-seek book that also incorporates Christian beliefs and traditions. For example, one page reads, “At church we learned that the Wise Men followed a special star to Jesus. That star must have really glowed in the dark!” The illustrations are my favorite part of this book. They enhance the story because the reader must find the star hidden in the pictures. These beautifully detailed illustrations represent important aspects of Christmas, such as a decorated Christmas tree, presents, holiday cookies, the manger scene, caroling, snow, and baby Jesus. The book pushes readers to think about their own holiday traditions. If they celebrate Christmas, they can compare the character’s traditions with their own. If they do not celebrate Christmas, they can learn about this holiday and compare it to their own holidays. The big idea of the story is to realize the importance of family and holiday traditions. Christmas is a time to be with family and be thankful for the people and things in your life. It is evident that the boy understands this message when the book reads, “You’re my star, she said as she closed my door. I’m glad God gave me a fun mom.” This book also gives families an idea of a fun activity to do around Christmastime.… (mehr)