Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

by Jane Cabrera

A favorite lullaby becomes a celebration of love in this lushly illustrated version featuring animals from all over the world.

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Nursery Rhymes, Animals, Childrens, Music, Family

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2012

About the author

Jane Cabrera is best known as an Author and Illustrator of Children's Books.
She has written and illustrated 56 books which have been translated into over 25 languages and won awards in the US and Europe. She lives on the edge of beautiful Dartmoor National Park in the UK.
Her books range from picture story books to concept board books for babies.

FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/janecabrera...

Reviews

[Belinda Vlasbaard · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars - English hardcover

My grandson loves it!

[The Library Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this day filled with picture books so clearly aimed at hipster librarians (I wince for the millionth time over nonsense like "Kidslit Drink Night)and the sort of parents who think that traditional children's music is boring, this is a lovely example of what picture books are supposed to be about--children--and of the reasons that traditional children's music will survive the hipsters and live forever.

Cabrera has the talent to take a classic children's song and turn it into something new and special.
Here she extends the classic lullaby with verse that is sweet, NOT saccharine, and perfectly catches what has made generations love and sing this song. Her bright art with strong lines always has tremendous child appeal and the animal parents and babies here shine with love as bright as the stars pictured above them. I am already planning to use this at story hours for toddlers and preschoolers and may even use it at my infant program.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by Jane Cabrera is an expanded version of the classic lullaby.

Cabrera's bright, colorful illustrations give views of that twinkling star from around the world. Animal pairs of babies and mothers who watch are owls, deer, whales, kangaroos, polar bears, raptors, cats, lions, monkeys, and people. Other animals to spot include squirrel, rabbit, octopus, fish and lizard. I love the picture of Ayers Rock and the kangaroos. My other favorite images are deer, whales, polar bears, and monkeys.

Verses of the lullaby list habitats such as seas, desert, mountains, grassy plains, and jungle. Verses describe the animals watching as the star is said to sparkle, flicker, shimmer, and glisten.

The wide-eyed animals are appealing, just avoiding being cutesy. Two page spreads highlight both the animals and their natural world. This should work equally well as a read-aloud or for story times.

For ages 2-5, bedtime, songs, animals, family, habitats, read-aloud, and fans of Jane Cabrera.

[midnightfaerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cabrera is a great author for the younger crowd. My twin 3 yr old's loved it. Colorful fun pictures that helps get the child engaged and keeps them engaged. The illustrations were paintings that had a unique brushstroke and the colors were so vibrant! Cabrera has a style all her own. Loved the paintings especially! Also, many of her books have themes that are popular children’s songs, so immediately her books grabbed my preschoolers attention. A great addition to any children's library.

[Fjóla · Rating 5 out of 5]

We're getting too old for this type of books, but I find the naive illustrations so charming I almost could eat them! I might feel compelled to get a Scholastic copy of the book, just so that I can continue to savor them once we return this one to the library ...

This is a great bedtime story for the younger ones.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful take on Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. The author extends the verses and pairs them with gorgeous illustrations. I used this with for a baby storytime, and the one preschooler in attendance loved it as well.

[Amy Hogue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Jane Cabrera books. Great for storytimes. This one flows well to the tune until the final verse. With a little practice you can sing it smoothly.

[Casandria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Added verses to the original song, with adorable illustrations.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this story at a preschool today. Great book with beautiful illustrations. Will use again in story time.

[Polly-Alida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sweet. Lovely illustrations of a twinkling star shining down on different landscapes and animals around the world. Perfect bedtime book.

[Felicia Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute pictures read it to baby girl

[Ashley Dam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jane Cabrera did a fantastic job with the colorful illustrations that gives views of the twinking start from all around the world. This first page of this book introduces the owl and the original song of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. As we keep turning the pages we see baby animals and their mothers watch the twinkling star from their habitat. The pair of animals we see are owls, deer, whales, kangaroos, polar bears, raptors, cats, lions, monkeys, and then people. Each one of these pictures has something in common which is all of them are looking up into the same sky on the same night. This book would be appropriate for ages three through age six due to introducing songs, animals, family, and natural habitats. I love the illustrations of this book which will allow children to be engaged and will keep them engaged. I always sing twinkle, twinkle, little star to children and this is an awesome twist to the story and children can learn a lot of different aspects. An activity I can complete with children would be having the children draw a picture of them and their parent(s)/guardian(s) looking up at the stars. Another activity could be having a whole class read aloud. Student’s can use hand motions, funny animal voices, and facial expressions to make the story more interactive and information by learning animal sounds.

[Bethany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awards received?
n/a

Appropriate Grade level?
Pre K -K

Original Summary:
Venturing off around the globe, Cabrera takes her readers on a journey visiting a variety of animals that all share something in common. Each parent-child pair are looking up into the same sky at the same start. Cabrera takes the traditional verse of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and makes it her own.

Original Review:
A very engaging read that truly makes you want to sing-a-long as you go. Cabrera’s bold images truly transport you into each region she portrays around the world. Cabrera’s incorporation of her own verses keeps the readers interested and in focus.

1-2 possible in-class uses:
Children love books that they can identify the words to. A fun activity would to be having a whole class read aloud. Student’s can use hand motions, funny animal voices, and facial expressions to engage the whole class. A discussion could be made that Cabrera took the traditional song and made it her own. Giving the students opportunities to create their own verse could be used as a writing prompt. Students could make their own pages and the teacher could put all of the pages together making the class version of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

[Olivia Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star by Jane Cabrera has received no awards. I believe this is best suited for Pre K- K. This version of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, Cabrera takes her readers on a journey visiting a variety of animals that all share something in common. Each parent-child pair are looking up into the same sky at the same start. Cabrera takes the traditional verse of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and makes it her own. This book is a very engaging read that truly makes you want to sing-a-long as you go. Cabrera’s bold images truly transport you into each region she portrays around the world. Cabrera’s incorporation of her own verses keeps the readers interested and in focus.
A fun activity would to be having a whole class read aloud. Student’s can use hand motions, funny animal voices, and facial expressions to engage the whole class. A discussion could be made that Cabrera took the traditional song and made it her own. Giving the students opportunities to create their own verse could be used as a writing prompt. Students could make their own pages and the teacher could put all of the pages together making the class version of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.

[Amanda Oquendo · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. Awards: None

2. Grade Level(s): Preschool - Kindergarten

3. Summary: The book “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” by Jane Cabrera uses the classic nursery rhyme Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star in a unique way. Throughout the story, it introduces different animals from all over the world who are looking up at the stars in the sky. The classic nursery rhyme is altered to match the animal and their habitat.

4. Review: Overall, this is an excellent and unique way of using the classic Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star nursery rhyme. It uses the original rhythm and pattern to create a story about animals from all around the world. The story is very applicable in teaching students about family, different animals and their habitats, and rhyming words.

5. In-Class Uses:
- Have the students draw a picture of them and their parent(s)/guardian(s) looking up at the stars
- Introduce rhyming words such as star and are, high and sky, trees and seas, etc. and do a rhyming word activity such as matching.
- While reading the story aloud, have the children predict what animal will be introduced next. Then discuss or do an activity about different animals and were they live.

[RLL22016_Joy Bailey Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is one of the coolest night time stories ever. The author, Jane Cabera, took a lullaby and added more verses to it and came up with a wonderful story. I believe when reading this story you can interpret many ways. From my point of view, I believe that all the different any male in this story have a version of what they see in the sky about the same exact star but just from a different point of view, their location on the planet. Some animals are living in cold climates while others are living in warm. However, when they each gaze up at the sky at night they all see the same star. I love the rhyming in the story I think it helps to capture the young readers attention. Also, many young readers can relate to bed time with their parents at night as well. Loved it and will be reading to my son tonight.

[Jessica Steward · Rating 4 out of 5]

1 - No awards.

2 - Pre-K through 1st grade

3 - The book starts off with the famous nursery rhyme “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” Next all different kinds of animals are looking up at the star around the world, mentioning how it shines over the environment they live in. The book then ends with the start looking over the entire earth, and more specifically, a mother and her child.

4 - This book carries a lot of wonderful teaching aspects. It incorporates rhyme, various animals, and various different kinds of geography. The illustrations are detailed and show all the different environmental features around the world. It holds students attention and is a great book for lower level readers.

5 - (1) This book could be used to teach about rhyming. (2) The book could be used for a lesson about animals. (3) Lastly, the book could be used for a lesson about geography.

[Julia Mastrup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awards: n/a

Grade Level: K

Summary: Cabrera makes the traditional verse of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star into her own by taking the readers around the world with the star. Each part of the story includes a different word to describe how the star shines down on each animal and their landscapes.

Review: This book extends the verse of the well known Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. The book has vivid, colorful pictures, it uses a lot of alliteration, and makes traveling around the world with the star, fun and engaging. Children can learn alot about the animals described and the environments that they live in by observing the detailed illustrations.

In class uses:
- Students will draw a picture of themselves looking at the star and fill in the template to create their own verse.
- Students will identify rhyming words from the story.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

1.No awards
2. Pre K - 1st grade
3. This Nursery Rhyme book takes you through the classic rhyme with grown animals and their babies. The rhyme changes throughout the story based on the habitat that the specific animal lives in.
4. I really liked this book, it changes the original rhyme up to line up with the specific animal on the page. The lines were catchy and the illustrations were vivid and capturing.
5. This book can be used to taught about different animals and what their babies are called. This book can also help teach about the habitats of the animals. This book would be good to use in a unit about community.

[Ashley Hickey · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. This book is appropriate for Preschool through 1st grade.
2. This book is a version of the lullaby "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". It goes beyond the version that is known to most people. It features animals parents singing the lullaby to their young.
3. This book has great illustrations that children will be drawn to. There is not along of words on the page so it is easy for children to follow along. The rhyming in this book will also be easy for children to retain and remember.
4. One way to use this book in a classroom is to have students sing along. The teacher can teach students the verses one at a time until they are able to sing the whole book as a read along.

[Gabriella Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is appropriate for pre-k to 1st grade. The story follows the original lullaby and continues as the star travels throughout the world. It appears in the sky and introduces a variety of animals. The book ends with the star shining its light all over the world and our loved ones. The book is a great expansion of the original "twinkle twinkle" song. It introduces the reader to all kinds of different animals. I also enjoyed the heart-warming ending. This book is great to read and sing aloud to students in the classroom. Students can learn phonemic awareness through song, as well as fluency.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read (and sang) this to preschoolers, and to launch our own poems, we asked ourselves: who (or what) do we want to talk to? What do wonder about or what do we want to ask this thing? The kids loved the illustrations, and loved that they could sing along, and I loved that there were new words.

The last page is a bit jarring -- that it is a baby (and not an older child), and that they are so white. (Every time, in every group, there was a bit of a re-adjust at that moment. Like: oh. A baby? White people?) If I could change one thing it would be not to show humans here -- we don't need it, and it takes it out of the universal.

[Alexi Harrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

1) No awards
2) Prek-k
3) This version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is one that goes beyond the traditional sing-along. Cabera takes the readers on a journey to visit animals as they all look up at the night sky. It is an engaging story that takes this song to another level.
4) Ever since I was little I have loved this song. It is one everyone knows and finds themselves singing once in a while. Students will stay engaged with the story as well as the singing that goes along with it.
5) For an activity, students can simply sing along and pay attention to the details of the images. They can then draw their own picture looking up into the night sky with their family.

[Carley VanEtten]

1. No awards.
2. Pre-k through 1st grade.
3. This book starts off with the nursery rhyme, twinkle, twinkle, little star. Then the rhymes continue and different animals from all over the world show their curiosity about the star.
4. This book is great for a variety of reasons. It is good for rhyming. It is also good for showing different kinds of animals and where they live.
5. This book could be used in a classroom as an example of rhyming. The entire book is a rhyme sequence and shows rhyming and repetition perfectly.

[Samantha Beaujour · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. None.
2. Pre k- Kindergarten.
3. A twist on the classic song takes readers all around the world. Parents and their baby animals look up at the stars above and point out the ones they love. A great bedtime story.
4. Once again a classic rhyme that almost every child knows. Perfect for introducing early readers rhyming.
5. Look up and research different types of stars, analyze all the rhyming words.

[Gabriella Balbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A. N/A

B. PreK-2nd Grade

C. This nursery rhyme is about ones curiosity of the star that shines in the sky.

D. This is a popular nursery rhyme that resonates with many young children. I believe it is very catchy and an easy read for most early readers.

E. Memory- By repeating this nursery rhyme children are able to strengthen their memory skills.

Rhyming- Create a game that matches the rhyming words that are used throughout the nursery rhyme.

[Danielle Tulp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awards: N/A
Appropriate Age Level: newborn- 6 years
Original Summary: This book shares an original song between baby animals and their parents from the city to the jungle, and places in between.
Original Review: This book puts a twist on an original lullaby and shares the wonder of a star in the sky.
In-Class Uses: This book can be used as a transition before nap time in a younger classroom or as a read-aloud during a thematic unit on families.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture book version of the old song, but with lots of cool new verses. The illustrations show the star shining down on lots of different parts of the world (deserts, jungles, towns) with different animals that I was sure to point out to the children. It was the perfect length for my preK group, but in the future I'll skip a few verses for the toddler group.
But I say "in the future" because it was a great storytime pick and I'll definitely use it again.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I successfully used this in a preschool storytime. It's basically several verses of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" set around the world with different animal parent/baby combos all looking up at the starry sky. Some great vocabulary words for young children: flicker, shimmer, sparkle, glisten. I would have rated it 4 stars if only it hadn't ended with a blonde mother and child, given how relatively few of the world's children are blonde.

[Ashley Quick]

Awards the book has received (if any)
No awards received

Appropriate grade level(s)
PreK-K

Original summary:
This book uses a classic song "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", but the sight of the star happens all over the world. It shows parent and baby animals looking at the same star from many different areas of the world.

Original review:
I think the book was a great twist on the classic "Twinkle Twinkle" nursery rhyme. It shows the reader how everyone can take in the beauty of the same star across the world, while also using a catchy rhyme.

Possible in-class uses:
-With the rhymes children hear how vowels and consonants sound. The Rhymes show children how to combine these sounds to form words.
- This book could be used in a animal unit to learn about different types of animals (e.g name, where they live, what they look like)