On the night of the Shooting Star is a deceptively simply picture book with a profound message, all done with joyous illustrations. Take time to notice all the tiny details. I spent a long time on the first few pages. Kindergarten children will enjoy this book but you could also share it with an older group as a way to discuss community and communication.
Bunny lives in her hutch-shaped home on one side of the fence. Her garden is over grown with grass and she has a carrot patch on her roof. Dog lives in his round house next door. His lawn is neatly mowed and he has a small boxed flower bed. Beyond their houses is a beautiful river with swan boats and gentle rolling hills. It looks like an idyllic place to live.
Inside their homes we discover more about each character. Bunny's home looks very comfortable. She has a little rabbit night light, rabbit salt and pepper shakers and a bed complete with rabbit ears head board. She loves to drink cocoa.
Dog's home is also cosy. He has his knitting, a beautiful floor rug with a border of dogs, dog salt and pepper shakers and his night light is a paw print. He loves to eat biscuits.
Each day Dog shyly observes Bunny and Bunny, equally shyly, looks over at Dog and at night both check for the window lights on the other side of the fence. Seasons come and go but no one says hello "or let's have a picnic today."
Then one sleepless night, when both Rabbit and Dog are out in their gardens, they see a shooting star. This is such an important shared experience.
"On the night of the shooting star, two doors open.
Bunny carries cocoa in cups, carefully to the fence, where Dog is waiting with a basketful of biscuits."
Did I mention Dog was knitting? Wait until you see what he has made!
Huge thanks to my friend at Kinderbookswitheverything for sharing this wonderful book with me.
I was recently listening to a radio interview about modern life and the way neighbours no longer connect with one another. The commentator blamed our busy lives and life in apartment complexes. Where I live there are many apartments and I certainly don't know more than one or two people out of more than fifty people who live here. There is no sense of community let alone friendly communication as evidenced by the 'rule' signs around the garbage bins! Perhaps we need a shared experience like the one in this book so our homes and lives might open up to our neighbours.
Amy Hest is the author of nearly fifty books many of which are brilliant picture books such as the Baby Duck series and books about Sam . She also has two novels - Remembering Mrs Rossi and Letters to Leo.
A beautiful lyrical story with some truly lovely artwork from blog favourite Jenni Desmond, this is a feelgood story that might just make you sit up and think how nice it'd be to get to know the people you live near or next door to. Read it Daddy
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