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Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite
In A Stargazer by Tuula Pere, Aylin is a young girl who falls ill with a high fever. While resting, she finds comfort and a bit of magic from the starry sky just outside her window. A glowing visitor named Vesper appears, and Aylin’s sure she’s been given something special. However, her parents don’t believe her when she tells them about her guest. They dismiss it as a fever dream. Once she’s back at school, no one seems to understand her excitement over space, but that only makes Aylin more determined to learn as much as she can on her own. Trips to the library, evenings spent looking at the stars with her dad, and a telescope long saved for, gradually open up the universe to her. Then her class goes on a field trip to the city observatory, and she hopes it might bring her closer to the mysteries she feels connected to. But will the visit strengthen her sense of wonder, or leave her feeling even more alone in her beliefs?
“Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight,” should be the mantra of this lovely tale. A Stargazer by Tuula Pere is the third story I’ve read from this author, and it’s the one I connected with the most. I was particularly moved during the scenes at the observatory. As an educator, I think this book could be used to begin conversations on believing in yourself, navigating teasing, and science vs. imagination. It could also be extended by having students draw their own “star friend” and maybe even write about them. The artwork by Nyamdorj Lkhaasuren is full of glowing skies, cozy indoor scenes, and expressive faces that pull you into Aylin’s world. Readers who enjoy books about stars or space will want to read it.
