Where to hide a star

Twenty years ago, Jeffers' picture book How to Catch a Star introduced the boy, who longed to have a star as a playmate. Several books later, the boy has three friends: a star, a penguin, and a helpful Martian. The new sequel reunites these characters and introduces one more. The boy, the star, and the penguin are playing hide-and-seek when the penguin gets stuck. While the boy works to free him, the star floats away in a little boat. After a frantic search, the boy radios for help. The Martian locates the star at the North Pole with a new friend, a girl. They all meet at the pole. Both children want to keep the star, but neither wants to make the other unhappy. Instead, the Martian starts a new hide-and-seek game by placing the star in a place where everyone can find him. Notable for its simplicity, insight, and charm, this book will entertain longtime fans of the boy and his adventures as well as kids unfamiliar with the series. The narrative reads aloud well, and the watercolor illustrations are notable for their use of subtly shaded colors as well as the drawings of the lovable characters. A welcome addition to this captivating series.

A boy, a star, a Martian, and a penguin all return for a tale of games gone awry. Jeffers reintroduces his droll hero, who appeared in his previous picture booksLost and Found (2006),How To Catch a Star (2004),The Way Back Home (2008), andUp and Down (2010). The boy loves playing games of hide-and-seek with two of his friends, a penguin and a star. The star isn't adept at hiding, while the penguin is overly fond of the same hiding spot. When the penguin accidentally gets wedged among some rocks, the boy places the star in a rowboat while attempting to dislodge the penguin. The boat immediately sets sail for the North Pole. Unable to find his missing friend, the boy enlists the aid of his Martian pal and, with the penguin in tow, they head out on a rescue mission. A rescue, that is, until they find that someone else has befriended the star. What will become of the star? Like Jeffers' other boy-related tales, this one is distinguished by its tone; the author/illustrator excels at cultivating a rose-hued melancholy sweetness that will linger long after the book is closed. The palette of the textured watercolors changes according to location and emotion, with the firmament above appearing in a striking final black-and-white culmination. A gratifying story of loving and letting go.(Picture book. 4-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.