The Sea Mice and the Stars

by Kenneth Steven

Two young sea mice wake one night to discover stars falling like petals from the sky. The stars are pieces of magic, their uncle tells them, sent to keep the sea mice safe. Each winter the sea mice collect the stars, and this year it is the job of the two young mice to gather them. Together they set off into the stormy night to gather enough stars to light the home of every sea mouse and to guide all the sea mice safely through the night. Charming illustrations capture the magical night when stars drop to the earth.

Genres: Picture Books

28 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1969

About the author

Kenneth Steven is a translator, writer, and poet. His longest translation, The Half Brother, was long-listed for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize and short-listed for the international IMPAC Award. He often completes work for NORLA (Norwegian Literature Abroad).

He lives in Aberfeldy, Perthshire, Scotland.

Reviews

[Capn · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Author's name is "Kenneth Steven" (not 'Stevens', as GR has at time of review. Illustrated (adorably) by Louise Ho. EDIT: Thank you to Asteropê who corrected it. :) <3

3.5, rounding up. Great use of silver foil, great wintery atmosphere, very Brambly Hedge in terms of story complexity and depth (light, cozy, all atmosphere). Character names a mouthful while reading aloud: Uncle Trumble, Filidore, Willabee and Ashenteen, and Stigmore.

Best served with star-shaped cookies, "still warm from the oven". No Christmas-specific content, if you're looking for a winter picture book without holiday affiliation (a mouse festival of lights, I presume, post-fallen star gathering, with spicy hot drinks and cookies)

[Cordellya Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a cute, creative story about what happens to falling stars. The illustrations are beautiful.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 4 out of 5]

That is the cutest st ever! Perfect for Christmas reads.

[Mandy J. Hoffman · Rating 1 out of 5]

Strange story. Cute pictues though!

[Galatea2.2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mooi geïllustreerd voorleesboek. De glinstertjes in het boek trekken onmiddellijk de aandacht van kinderen. Het verhaal zelf is ook origineel (en zelfs wat sprookjesachtig).