I “met” Cynthia Rylant’s The Stars Will Still Shine back in 2005 when I was a children’s book buyer. Today, the book’s reassuring message still seems as important as ever.
…So Cynthia Rylant begins her ode to all things good, inviting us in to be comforted a while. Page after page, she reminds us of what is still right with the world. From the chiming of church bells, to ice cream cones three scoops high, to snuggling on a rainy day, her text appeals to a child’s senses while evoking the symbols of peace, delight, hope, and love most common to a child’s experience.
Tiphanie Beeke’s luminous illustrations are a testament to how vibrant watercolor can be. Just look at those jewel tones!
To open this book is to open up a space of beauty and calm in the midst of troubled, uncertain times. What better gift for our children and ourselves this new year?
