Little Star

We read lots of Christmas picture books each year.  I love sitting down with the kids with a small stack of holiday books.  Over the past few years, I've collected some favorites that I pull out and read only during Advent and Christmas.  We've got books about Winter, The Nativity and some holiday fantasies like The Nutcracker and The Polar Express.  This Year, my oldest son checked out at least six different versions of  the famous poem, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.  He wanted to compare all the art work of each version.  So, yes, we truly enjoy Christmas picture books around here.  In fact, I hope to collect a few more treasures this year in addition to Anthony DeStefano's Little Star. 
I sat down to read this book to my two older sons a couple of weeks ago and I've been meaing to post about it since, but life with infant twin boys has made me a little slow about reviewing Little Star. 
Little Star is delightful.  It tells The Christmas Story from the perspective of a tiny ignored star (kind of reminded me of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer a little bit- read it and you'll see why). This humble little star is the only star who understands that the baby Jesus is a king and that he's just little. Little Star  "gets it" because he's also little.  The tiny little star wants so badly to touch the baby and warm him that he uses all of his strength to reach out with his light to the earth.  He burns brighter and brighter with love for the baby King and he ultimately burns himself out.  With so much love, Little Star sacrifices himself for the cold baby.  The star reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world and Little Star's sacrifice points us to the ultimate destiny of that tiny baby as well.  It's a keeper.  DeStefano's Little Star keeps the Christmas story fresh with some vivid artwork even if the stars look a little cartoon-ish.  This little story not only tells the story of the birth of Jesus, but reminds us that true love is sacrifice..

Merry Christmas friends!