cover image The Man Made of Stars

The Man Made of Stars

M.H. Clark, illus. by Lisa Evans. Compendium (APG, dist.), $18.95 (32p) ISBN 978-1-938298-61-5

When a pale, angelic boy sees a mysterious light at the edge of the trees, his grandmother tells him that its source is the %E2%80%9Cman made of stars.%E2%80%9D Though no one knows who he is or what he does, %E2%80%9Che has lived here always,%E2%80%9D she says. Wanting to know the man%E2%80%99s secret, the boy follows his light into the forest. Evans creates an ethereal, almost bioluminescent world in her illustrations. The boy eventually finds a wizardlike figure, whose white robe and beard glow pink in the celestial light. He gently explains that the stars are positive human emotions, like love: %E2%80%9CYou must have made someone very happy today. When you shared that kindness, a little extra spilled over. Now that kindness will become a new star.%E2%80%9D As the story concludes, the boy tells readers that he now spends the evenings looking for new stars in the sky, ones that might contain a %E2%80%9Cspecial piece of me.%E2%80%9D Readers intrigued by the fantastical setup may be disappointed by the story%E2%80%99s slow pace and oblique, feel-good sentiments, which can feel as hazy as Evans%E2%80%99s artwork. Ages 4%E2%80%93up. (June)