The Night the Stars Went Out

by Suz Hughes

Alien was the star controller for the entire galaxy, which was a big job for a very little alien. One night something disastrous happens, and Alien faces the biggest problem of his life. Will Alien be able to fix the stars? With a focus on friendship and problem solving, this picture book is a treat for everyone.

Genres: Picture Books, Space, Childrens, Aliens, Friendship, Science Fiction, Storytime

33 pages, Library Binding

First published October 1, 2016

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a children’s picture book featuring an alien who shines stars and makes no time for friends or play. One night the stars go out and he goes to earth in search of magic star varnish. He realizes that as he develops a friendship with a boy on earth that he didn’t need the varnish, he only needed friendship and joy in his heart. It is beautifully illustrated. I love that this book teaches children about friendship and balance. This book requires certain leaps of faith to keep up with the plot and logistics (alien floating on earth, boy and alien communicating by phone between earth and outer space), but children are more forgiving of these things. I would give this 3-stars and recommend it to 2-6 year olds.

Thank you to Netgalley & Capstone books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

For discussion questions, please visit: www.book-chatter.com.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alien has the very important job of keeping the stars shiny. It's a full time job. He doesn't even have time to make friends or have fun. Despite all his efforts, one day the stars just went out. That was catastrophic! All he tried to fix it failed, so the Star HelpLine suggested to get some magic varnish at planet Earth. His arrival was a little troubled, since aliens float on Earth, but luckily he met a boy named George who happily helped him to make his way to the hard store and buy all the magic varnish they could carry. George also invited Alien to play with him, and they had a great time together. Alien couldn't believe how much fun was to have a friend! He felt so happy! And then he saw the night full of bright stars. He realized friendship was all the varnish he needed. It was time to came back to his planet, but George and Alien promised to be friends for ever, to grant a shiny, glowing, sparkling sky in the night.

Beautiful story about the importance of friendship to keep us healthy and bright. The text is simple enough to be read to toddlers too. I also loved the illustrations, colorful, smart, and sometimes crayon-like. As far as I know this is Hughes first book as author besides illustrator, and it's wonderful.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Find more children's book reviews in Reviews in Chalk

[Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review: THE NIGHT THE STARS WENT OUT

A delightful science fiction picture plus text emphasizing the importance of both friendship and dedication. As it happened, as I began to read it for review, my 4-year-old granddaughter and 11-month-old grandson both very much enjoyed my reading it and sharing the illustrations.

[La La · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a cute book. The illustrations are good, but nothing special. I understood the "message" the story was trying to impart, but I am not quite sure it would be fully absorbed by a child because of the odd way the story was written. For this reason I am going to send the physical copy I received to my five year old reviewer for my Children's book blog. If she "gets it" I will come back and give it another star. Part of my low star rating is from the fact that it is quite pricey for such a short book.

I was sent a physical copy by request, through Netgalley, in return for an honest review.

My Kookies and Milk feature reviewer, Kaylee, will be reviewing this title on my Children's book blog, Tickling Dragons, in the near future. I will add the link when it is posted.

[Richelle Zirkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the stars go out, alien must go to Earth to get more star shine. The reader gets to follow him on his journey as he navigates our strange world and makes a friend. Great story that offers a whimsical explanation for why the stars shine. This is perfect for the toddler - K crowd.

I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just love, love, loved the illustrations in this book. Bold and bright and FUN.

But the storyline went all over the place, and while the message is just lovely, I was a bit confused at some points... which only means the kids might be even more confused.

[Suzanne Lorraine Kunz Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Once in a while you come across a children's book that you want to recommend to everyone. This book shows the importance of taking a break once in a while to become rejuvenated and refreshed and happy again. Highly recommended! great read.

[Courtney W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Picture Window Books, NetGalley, and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

My daughter and I had a great time reading this story and really loved the illustrations.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Sandra-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teaches you the value of friendship and how one should accept the help when in need. Pictures are illustrated beautifully and it's a good story to read at night when the child wants to go to sleep.

[Kareena · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story about stars, aliens, and friendship. Would work well for story time.

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for supplying me with a free copy of this book for review.

When I started this book I was blown away. The first couple of pages talked about balance in life. What a neat concept for a kids book!

Alien, the main character, has a poor work-leisure balance. He spends all his time tending to the stars, for he is in control of them shining. As the title reveals, disaster strikes, the stars go out! This allows Alien to embark on a journey of self-discovery (it was all happening so beautifully)....

But then, the focus abruptly shifted to the importance of friendship. And the person who teaches Alien this value is not Alien himself, but another character. It would have been much stronger for Alien to discover this himself. I was sad that the hero's journey was somewhat lost (or at least diminshed) but I thought the importance of balance in life would still be espoused.

Spending time with friends is a way to achieve a work-life balance, and that's where I thought Hughes was going. I thought the book would neatly come full circle back to the start where Alien would have a moment of realisation that it wasn't good for him to spend all his time at work. Instead, the book now was focussed on friendships and how important they are. The message of balancing work and leisure was still somewhat there, but mostly it was lost. The reader was forced to conclude that this was a story about friendship, not life-balance.

I think a story about work-leisure balance would be fantastic! It's just a pity Hughes got so, so very close and didn't end up achieving that.

[Carissa Crossett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alien was the star controller for the entire galaxy, which was a big job for a very little alien. One night something disastrous happens, and Alien faces the biggest problem of his life. Will Alien be able to fix the stars? With a focus on friendship and problem solving, this picture book is a treat for everyone.

Even with lovely illustrations this picture book is slightly lacking in its writing. The story starts out well but quickly seems to be a more step by step description of this alien's day than an actual plot. I would have like to see more of a relationship development between the characters of the alien and the human. I read it to my class of 10 3-6 year olds and they kinda lost interest after the mustache part. But overall The Night the Stars Went Out is a story about friendship and the importance of having fun and relaxing. I give it 3 out of 5 Stars.

About the Author: Suz Hughes’s work has been published in a number of books. She studied art and design with a main focus in children’s illustration, which has served her well. Suz likes to mix imagination with everyday life in her work, hoping to make her readers smile. Suz grew up in Wales and currently lives in Manchester.

*I was given an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

For more children books reviews visit my blog at https://sunflowersandpicturebooks.wor...

[Joni Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received from Netgalley

Alien has a full time job of making sure the stars shine every night. It's a very big job, and he is just a little alien. Because he is so busy with his job he doesn't have much time for other things. That is, until one night the stars go out and Alien has find a way to get them to come back on.

So this book was cute for all of my kids. It was a good lesson in perseverance, friendship and for my 8 year old especially, responsibility. Alien could have just stopped trying and hoped the stars would just somehow come back on but instead of tried and tried to fix them, even traveling to planet Earth and making a new friend a long the way. As Alien plays with his new friend the stars come back on! Alien needed a friend to help him out. A good lesson in not doing things by yourself and always being ok with asking for help. Responsibility got thrown in there a little by me, maybe I'm the only one who saw it as an opportunity to tell my 8 year old that if that little alien has a full time job keeping the stars on then I think she can manage to make her bed every day. No? Just me? Oh well, it worked anyway.

I would say its for a bit of an older crowd 4-5 and up maybe. My 3 year olds got restless and were up and moving and playing while I was reading it.

Overall, good book, multiple teaching points. Would probably purchase and definitely recommend.

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Night the Stars Went Out by Suz Hughs is a picturebook that is currently scheduled for release on October 1 2016. Alien is the star controller for the entire galaxy, which was a big job for a very little alien. He is so busy polishing the stars that he has no time for fun or friends. One night something disastrous happens, and Alien faces the biggest problem of his life. Will Alien be able to fix the stars?

The Night the Stars Went Out is a bright and boldly colored picturebook, which fits the story and characters perfectly. Alien is dedicated to his job, he has no friends or fun because he spends all his time polishing the stars. However, one night all the stars go out despite all his hard work. The only solution is some special star polish that is only available on Earth. Once there Alien has a few surprises, like the fact that he floats on Earth and making friends with a boy. I like that it is in finding a friend, and discovering the fun and importance of friendship, is what actually restore the stars. The adventures the fiends have, and the way the keep in touch, keep the heart of the story strong.

The Night the Stars Went Out is a delightfully fun book about making friends, and making time for fun. While doing our duty and meeting our responsibilities is important, it is also important to take time out to enjoy life.

[Stacy Renee (LazyDayLit) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Lazy Day Literature

Alien's job is to keep the stars shining bright and he does a really good job at it, never taking breaks. Of course, that meant that he couldn't make friends or have fun. When the stars go out and refuse to turn back on, he searches for a way to fix the problem but learns that what he needs is on a planet called Earth. Once there he meets a boy that helps him. They quickly become friends and Alien finds out exactly what he needed to get the stars to shine again.

This is a very cute science fiction picture book that shows how important it is to make friends. There is something about the story that I felt lacked proper explanation. A lot of what happens in this book is pretty much nonsense but I think kids will easily overlook any problems it has and really enjoy the alien character and his little adventure to Earth.

I love the bright and colorful illustrations and the slight doodle look that they have. They really bring the story to life and give it an extra pop.

I received a free ecopy of this picture book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Harker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute story. It brought to mind the plot of a Disney Pixar short, which is usually a good sign.

The art was a middling fine; there wasn't anything that blew me away about it, but it was satisfying.

The difficulty I had with the book lay with the plot. I realize that this book is meant for a young crowd, but I think that there will be more than a few kids that will spot the problems here. The biggest one: there was never any reason given for the stars going out. Secondary: there was never a real reason given for why the stars come back on beyond "the power of friendship". A simple story is great and all that, but I think resolutions that are clear would be a better way to go about telling it.

The message about not letting work being the be all and end all of your existence was a good one. The execution was a bit of a letdown. I might still recommend this book to parents with children in the recommended age group, but I'd probably warn them about the plot holes and maybe suggest that they come up with a reason to tell their kid, just in case.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alien is a star shiner. He has to keep all the stars in the sky shining. He does not take a break to play or make friends. When the stars go out, he does not know what to do. He is told to get Magic Star Varnish from the planet Earth. He arrives on Earth and meets a boy and his dog. When George helps alien find the varnish they decide they have time to play before he heads back to space. Alien has so much fun. They laugh and laugh. Suddenly the stars turn back on. They wanted Alien to make a friend and learn to have fun. George and Alien become fast friends. A cute story about taking time to have fun which was not lost upon me, the adult reading this book to her grandson. He didn't get the message but he liked the pictures, especially the colourful stars. A great read aloud book to kids with the message getting through to the adults as they read.

I received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Stew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay, perhaps this is being overly picky but the story in this book is absolute nonsense and it is driving me mad. I understand that children don't necessarily need stories that are always logical but this one might actually make your child dumber for reading it. The book is essentially about an alien whose job it is to keep the stars shining and one day when they stop shining (for no apparent reason) he is sent to earth for some varnish (why?) to get them shining again. On his journey he meets a boy who helps him find the varnish and they become friends and poof, the stars start shining again without the varnish just because they are BFFs. Does that make any sense to you? Me either.

So, the only saving grace to this book is that the illustrations are awesome and I really wish the artist would have used these on a book with a better story. It's a shame.

(I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review of the book)

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review copy provided by NetGalley

All work and no play makes for a sad alien and a dark night sky. At least, that's what this book will teach us. An alien named Alien spends all his time shining stars and no time enjoying the companionship of others. He's a hard worker, but he's obviously unhappy. Then the stars go out and only some magic varnish from planet Earth will bring them back. Alien comes to Earth and meets a friend. They get the varnish, but more importantly, Alien learns to have fun.

This book is about balance. The alien in the story does not have balance and it causes problems. That's a theme kids could certainly use a book about. I like the idea of the book, and I like its presentation. If you ask me, that's all a book needs to earn its place in a library, and this book is certainly going into my library when it comes out. It was a pleasure to read, and I look forward to sharing it with children when it reaches the market.

[Kizzi Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alien has an important job. He must shine all the stars every night. His job is so important he never has time for fun, but that's OK because Alien loves his job. Then one night, the unthinkable happens....all the stars go out! Alien tries everything he can think of but the stars stay out. How will Alien ever turn the stars back on?

"The Night the Stars Went Out" written and illustrated by Suz Hughes reiterates the message that all work and no play makes for a dull life. The tale starts out beautifully with the unique world of Alien polishing stars and hilariously trying to fix them, but then Alien leaves for Earth and the story loses a bit of its magic. The story wraps up a bit too neatly after such a brilliant set up and, while the ending is cute, the reader might feel a bit dissatisfied.

Thank you Net Galley for an advanced reading copy of this book.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok book about friendship. Basically, the way to get the stars to shine in the sky is to not work all the time, and have friends.

Since I doubt there are a lot of kids out there that do that, both work all the time and don't have friends, I felt this was a little heavy handed. I mean, friendship is good, and it should be cherised and all that, but are there kids out there that don't have any friends, and are constantly working with no play?

So, 3 stars for promoting friendship, but no more stars for being heavy handed, for naming the alien, Alien. (really?), and for making Alien a "him" instead of an "it". (Really?)

I'm sure there are kids out there that will enjoy reading this because it is about an alien, but there are other books out there that are more fun to read.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Samantha Bilodeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet book! I liked the message of life balance and friendship.

My son (3.5) really loved the illustrations and Alien, as did I. The illustrations reminded me some of Oliver Jeffers, which is one of our favorite illustrators. The colors used, especially the stars being so colorful, were wonderfully vibrant.

One part in particular was a bit confusing though - Alien was tied to a balloon so he wouldn't float away... But not only would that not logically make sense since, surely, both would fly away if tied to one another, but also because the illustration has the boy letting the balloon go while he ties Alien to the string from the balloon.

All in all, relatively short and sweet.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is my own.

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little alien is in charge for shining stars--and he takes his job very seriously, working all the time and having no time for fun or friends. When the stars go out one night, he goes to Earth to buy a magic varnish that should fix them. While he's on Earth, he meets a boy named George who helps him find his star varnish but who also invites him to play--and as they have fun together, the stars come back on, showing Alien that he needed friendship to make the stars shine.

This is a super fun book. While it could provide fodder for discussions about balance, friendship, etc., what really stood out to me were the illustrations. They are bright and colorful and just awesome. I especially liked the space scenes, where the colors on the black background have a chalky-feel (in a good way).

I read a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great little book about an alien who travels to Earth to get a magic varnish to make the stars come back. My three kids (19 months, 3, and 5) absolutely loved the book and all of its colorful illustrations. The pictures were a mix of "grown-up" artwork and drawings that looked like children's crayon scribble drawings which was super cute. My kids were right up against the computer (digital copy!) pointing out different things and getting into the story. We will definitely be reading this one again and again!

I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Alaina · Rating 4 out of 5]

The art is really what sold me on this book. The plot is cute but a little lacking, but I found the art really makes up for it in my opinion. The colors are bright and bold, the character designs are simple and fun, and the font is interesting and eye-catching. I do wish there was a little more explanation to why friendship is important and why that mattered to the stars (maybe the warmth the alien felt effected the stars?) but all in all, it's a nice, simple, fun book about friendship that I think kids will really enjoy!

[Amanda Thai · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.
An adorable picture book about the value of friendship. The concept of an alien who 'shined' the stars was intriguing and I loved the message about finding friends and letting yourself have fun. The illustrations were bright and had a coloured pencil and paper cut-out look to them. The font used made me nostalgic for the old Maisy books I would read as a child. The Night the Stars Went Out would be a great bedtime story.

*eARC received from Capstone via Netgalley.*

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations were absolutely adorable but as far as the plot and the story line, it didn't do much for me. I felt that the first few pages were great but then the story started lacking a lot of detail and there was much more room and potential for such a great story. The friendship between the boy in the alien was a nice gesture but again I wish we could have known more about how they developed the friendship.
* I received a copy of this book via NetGalley & Capstone Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.

[Katie Zebrowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book for children about the importance of friendship. Some children may read into it more than the author intended, which will leave them with more questions! While the book was ok in terms of illustrations, the plot didn't have a sense of resolution. Alien comes to Earth and makes friends with George, but the reason he came to Earth is solved by a secondary reason. It would be best for emergent readers, Kindergarten and younger.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley to give an unbiased review.

[Issy Britton · Rating 5 out of 5]

OK BUT ALIEN IS ADORable this whole book is really cute, wonderful, beautifully illustrated and really homes in on the importance of friendship. With the state of friendships in later life, this book actually hits home with the adult reading to the child. You can do anything with the right people by your side. Thank you so much to Georgia at Curious Fox for this reading copy, I'll be sure to plug it and back it in Waterstones Cribbs as much as I can, it's a debut worthy of all the praise it's given.