Twinkle, Star of the Week

Joan Holub
Illustrated by Paul Nicholls

The teacher, Ms. Sun, will give each of her students an opportunity to be a superstar, to sit in the Milky Way chair during Sharing Time. Of the nine students, the brightest, Twinkle, knew she wanted to sing her song. The others all had things they would share for their special time. Dazzle went first – three planets circled around her. The class counted eight planets circling Ms. Sun. When Blaze was a superstar he brought asteroid cookies and explained asteroids are mostly rock. Soon it was Shimmer’s time and she shared a shape game of stars called Constellation Tag. Twinkle thought about mentioning planet tutus, but decided against it. Finally, since she was the brightest star, she decided to do something no one else had done. Surely, you may have seen her star up in the sky and thought about it now and then?

The publisher note considers this book as a low-key introduction to the stars, planets, and other objects of the Universe. Considering the target age of the book, readers of the 6 – 8 age groups will be unnecessarily deprived of additional science. Why were the three planets around Dazzle not identified? It would only have been one more sentence. If the class counted eight planets circling Ms. Sun, why not identify those planets. The Constellation Tag game clearly shows the Big Dipper yet it does not identify it. Finally, Twinkle mentions planet tutus – we should all look that one up. On a scale of one to ten, this book receives a one. Doing a halfway job in explaining science is not the correct way to show a child they are special; do not bother putting this one on your shelves.

BIBLIO: 2010, Albert Whitman & Company, Ages 6 - 8, $16.99.
REVIEWER: Debby Willett
FORMAT: Picture Book
ISBN: 978-0-8075-8131-5

REVIEWED FOR: Children’s Literature, Online Version, 7/8/10