The Stars Just Up the Street

by Sue Soltis, Christine Davenier (Illustrations)

A grandpa's memories of brilliant night skies inspire a little girl to take action in a tale for budding community organizers and star lovers alike.

Mabel loves stars. She counts five from her window and thirty-seven from her backyard. But her grandfather tells her that, as a child, he could see thousands. Could it be true? Mabel climbs a hill looking for more stars -- only to discover that the glow from the nearby town makes them hard to see. What would it take for her neighbors to turn off their lights, just for one night, so that everyone could see the starlit sky? Sue Soltis's tale of a young activist and Christine Davenier's luminous illustrations will leave readers curious about the dark-sky movement -- and the wonder that is waiting for them just up the street.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Space, Government, Nature, Astronomy, Activism

40 pages, Hardcover

Published March 17, 2020

About the author

Sue Soltis is a published poet. She lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Reviews

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This made me tear up. I love books where kids advocate for change and the community supports them. My kids are young enough not to know about light pollution so this was perfect target audience.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book about taking the time to enjoy the beautiful world around us. Mabel loves looking at the stars. But from her bedroom window she can only see a few of them. When her grandfather tells her that he used to be able to see thousands, Mabel wants to be able to see that many as well. But all the lights of her neighborhood make it impossible. But with her grandfather's help, Mabel sets out to get the mayor and her neighbors to turn off the lights so they can all enjoy the beauty of the stars. An inspiring tale of the power of perseverance and the value in taking the time to enjoy the world around us. The illustrations are a bit reminiscent of Quentin Blake and work well. The curves and chaotic nature of the illustrations matches the themes of relaxing and letting go. A delightful tale just right for reminding us of the need to take the time to enjoy the natural world.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light pollution, inter-generational relationships, and community connection are the main themes of this beautifully illustrated picture book about stargazing whose only major flaw is a cliched, uncaring mayor character whose stubbornness doesn't feel plausible.

[J.L. Slipak · Rating 5 out of 5]

A grandpa’s memories of brilliant night skies inspire a little girl to take action in a tale for budding community organizers and star lovers alike.

Mabel loves stars. She counts five from her window and thirty-seven from her backyard. But her grandfather tells her that, as a child, he could see thousands. Could it be true? Mabel climbs a hill looking for more stars — only to discover that the glow from the nearby town makes them hard to see. What would it take for her neighbors to turn off their lights, just for one night, so that everyone could see the starlit sky? Sue Soltis’s tale of a young activist and Christine Davenier’s luminous illustrations will leave readers curious about the dark-sky movement — and the wonder that is waiting for them just up the street.

Out March 2020

40 Pages

MY THOUGHTS:

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

Pretty illustrations grace the pages of this book. I remember as a young girl being able to sit outside with my dad at night staring at the sky. He was a huge science and science fiction lover. He taught me about nature and stars and how to dream. We’d have wonderful conversations all the while he’d point out various stars and clusters and we’d stay out until the wee hours of the night dreaming of possibilities of what could be out there. This book brought it all back.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could convince all to declare a new moon holiday where we can gather and dream under a starlit night. Imagine all the power we’d save, all the relationships we’d build… all the wonders we’d see. Just like in this book.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Stars just up the street is a fiction novel about a girl named Mabel. Mabel loved looking at the stars at night however she couldn't see that many because there was so much light around her. So she decided she was going to go and ask all her neighbors if they could turn off their lights and come and watch the stars with her. She also tried to convince the mayor to turn off the lights in the town and after her getting the whole community together they convince the mayor to shut the lights off.

I just really loved the story of perseverance that Mable taught. She wants to do all of this because she is utterly fascinated with the pretty stars and I think that idea is adorable. I liked that the structure of the text was simple and flowed well. Also, the illustrations were watercolor and had a lot of detail which was fun to look at.

I would use this text in the classroom to teach the kids what perseverance is and what it looks like. Also, you can use it to show that how one little girl made a huge difference just by asking other people for help. If you put yourself out there and even fail sometimes you just have to keep trying and not give up.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mabel loved looking at stars. She could count five from her window and nineteen from her backyard and it didn't get much better from up in a tree. She puzzled over her grandfather telling her that he could remember seeing thousands when he was growing up. They climbed up a nearby hill one night where she counted 103. Thus begins her journey to see more. She noticed that everyone had their lights on, so she and her grandpa went door to door to see if some would turn off all their lights. There were more to ask. . . I love that Sue Solstis' story showed the respect the grandfather showed his granddaughter when he helped her follow through with her ideas to solve the problem with too many lights in the evening dark. He accepted her ideas of asking the neighbors, and more! Christine Davenier's beautiful watercolor illustrations with black outlining show off the story with delicacy. It's a sweet story of a young girl persisting so she can see the things she loves.
Thanks to Candlewick Press for the copy!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

When was the last time you looked up at the stars? Can you see many where you live or just a few? Where I live is not always the best for stargazing.
📖 Mabel loves looking up at the stars. She is able to see a few dozen from her home when the sky is clear but she longs for a view like her grandfather talks about. He loved to tell her stories of the many nights he would spend stargazing, seeing thousands and thousands in just one night!
📖 Determined for a spectacular stargazing night of her own, Mabel decides to ask her neighbors for help. Can they see more stars if they just turn off some of their lights? Follow along as one little girls determination benefits her whole town.
📖 This sweet story was both heartwarming and bittersweet. Hearing Mabel’s perseverance just made my mama heart beam with pride. I love a good story where the character works hard to make a wish come true. A little bittersweet though, this book made me reflect on my own towns light pollution and the longing I have for those clear nights with only the stars and moon for light.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mabel loves the stars. She loves to look at them from her window, her yard, even the tree in the yard but she has not been able to find the thousands of stars her grandfather describes from when he was a boy. Together with her grandfather she goes to different locations in her neighborhood to find more stars but the lights from the homes and streets still limit her view. She finally enlists the help of her neighbors and even the mayor to help her find the thousands of stars. This is a great light touch to help explain light pollution and how ambient light hinders our ability to see stars in the skies. This would be a great book to do in a storytime or discuss with children to help explain why they might not see many stars from their home and help them find ways or places to go to better their view. This is a fun picture book that would be a good addition to most picture book collections.

[James Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really wonderful book about something near and dear to my heart, stargazing! This is an easy reading book that touches on a variety of important issues such as light pollution, neighborhoods and even local politics, without ever being too heavy. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey young Mabel takes as she goes from seeing just a few stars from her house to seeing thousands by the end. The illustrations are warm, colorful and perfectly capture the essence of this book. By the end you'll have a warm feeling inside and hopefully a deeper connection to the cosmos. Highly recommended for kids and adults alike.

[Ellianna Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a young girl, Mabel, and her grandpa problem-solving an issue in their town. Her grandpa told her that when he. was younger he could see thousands of stars in the. sky, but. now because of all the lights in the town Mabel and he can only see a few. Mabel wanted to see the stars like her grandpa, so they went to odds and ends for her dream to come true.

I really enjoyed reading. this book. It's easy to read and straight to the point. I also enjoyed how it is about a granddaughter and grandpa because I haven't seen many books like that. The book is very age-appropriate and I would highly recommend reading it to elementary-age children.

I would use this book in the speech and language clinic for problem-solving skills. Mabel went to everyone in her town to just see the stars in the sky, but she had to jump through hoops to get there. By putting the client in Mabel's shoes it would be great for practicing problem-solving skills.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mabel can count 19 stars from the tree by her house. She loves listening to her grandfather tell of his childhood on the prairie where he could see thousands of stars. In a quest to see more stars, the duo recruit first their neighbors and then town to turn off the lights for one night.

This is a really lovely story highlights what can happen when people work together and introduces the idea of light pollution.

Christine Davenier's illustrations are created in ink and they are truly charming.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when one little girl wants to see stars? Well, she starts a revolution and everyone wants to watch stars with her! Then it's time to ask the Mayor to turn off some lights so they can see the stars. It's fun to see how little Mabel accomplishes this great feat! And every new moon the town meets to watch stars together!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned about this book from one of my friends and bought it for my DIL who teaches 2nd grade and does a unit on community. This is a perfect story to teach kids how they really can make a difference in their community

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book about a little girl fighting for a "lights out" day to combat light pollution and be able to see the stars. A sweet look at reconnecting with nature.

[Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very touching story and science too! Loved it!

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet intergenerational story about a young girl who shares her grandfather's love for stargazing.

[Pinky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mabel loves looking at the night sky and counting all the stars and stargazers watching them.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, inspiring and delightful little book about how one little girl makes a neighborhood-wide change when she inspires others to appreciate stargazing and watching the night sky. A gem!

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bringing a community together so they can see the stars, great book about persistence.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wonderful story of community!!

[Sarah Threlkeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the message of this book! A little girl has a dream and ends up affecting change in her town because she speaks out about it.

[Norkett · Rating 4 out of 5]

A starry night brought the whole community together.

[Lisa Nagel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely book about star gazing and getting a community together to enjoy the stars.

[Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute idea for a children’s book. I liked the idea of a child helping their community change but felt the ending was just okay.

[Dedra Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book about community, stars, and the relationship children can have with grandparents.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful. I kind of need to go stargazing now.

[Ms. B · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happens when a young person brings her cause to those in charge? Mabel's voice makes a difference in this story about bringing the stars back to her community.

[Colleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of how a girl and her grandpa work together to get their community to turn off the lights and see the stars.