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Many, many years ago, there was a little star that did not shine as bright as the other stars around it in the night sky. This made the star sad. When a particular baby boy was born, though, it was this star that first looked down upon the birth, and everything changed. Now, the star shone brighter and larger than any other at night. In Filigenzi’s charming picture book, children discover that the birth of that special baby boy was no ordinary event. It was the birth of Jesus, and three wise kings knew that following this star would lead them to something very special, bringing “goodness and happiness” to the world. There, in Bethlehem, they offered gifts, and the book ends with a reminder to all that every Christmas Eve if children look out their windows at night, they can still see that little star shining larger and brighter than the rest.
In large part, what makes this book so special and enticing to share with young children is its gentle voice. Also, the story’s simplicity, both with the text used and the accompanying artwork, somehow makes it more effective. The art consists entirely of non-complicated, modest line drawings. Drawings of the stars, the baby Jesus, the three kings with their gifts, and a child looking out the window are all presented in a most unassuming and straightforward fashion. The diction and the sentences themselves are neither complex nor confusing. Filigenzi has crafted a highly accessible, cozy little book about a special star and the story of its relationship to the birth of a boy in Bethlehem. Though this charming, warm book could be shared with young readers and pre-readers at any time, the story and its significance will carry additional meaning for adults and children alike during the Christmas season.