Books For Keeps
  • Home
  • Reviews
  • Articles
  • Past Issues
  • Latest Issue
  • Authors and Artists
  • Latest News
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
January 1, 2020/in Picture Book 5-8 Infant/Junior /by bookskeeps
BfK Rating:
BfK 240 January 2020
Reviewer: Jill Bennett
ISBN: 978-1849766630
Price: £12.99
Publisher: Tate Publishing
Genre: Picture Book
Age Range: 5-8 Infant/Junior
Length: 32pp
Buy the Book

How the Stars Came to Be

Author: Poonam Mistry

With her stunningly beautiful visuals, inspired by nature and Indian traditional designs, Poonam Mistry offers a folk tale style answer to the age-old question of how the stars came to be in the sky.

There was a time when light came only from the sun and the moon. This was fine for most of the days each month but left a few that gave the fisherman’s daughter cause to fear for her father’s safety out at sea at night with no moon to guide him. Such is her concern that one morning the Sun finds her shedding tears and asks her why she is so distressed.

Her response fuels the Sun with an idea. Taking a golden ray, he throws it down to earth where it shatters into a million glowing fragments. These he instructs her to gather up and place into the sky once he’s dropped beneath the horizon. “We will call them stars,” he says.

That night the Girl begins her task, placing the brightest star above her head and naming it Polaris. Piece by piece she carefully positions the stars, fashioning them into wonderful images; but no matter how many she uses, her bag still appears to be full. Has she taken on an impossible task?

All the while a monkey has been watching the Girl and as she sits despairing, he grabs her bag and dashes back up to hide in the trees. The Girl follows, a struggle ensues and out tumble all the remaining stars, seemingly ruining her work. But do they? Accidents do occasionally have happy outcomes …

Intricately patterned, awesome art shines out at every page turn of this book.

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on WhatsApp
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/how-the-stars-came-to-be.jpg 499 386 bookskeeps http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/bfklogo.png bookskeeps2020-01-01 14:29:002021-02-25 14:30:15How the Stars Came to Be

Search for a specific review

Author Search

Search







Generic filters




Filter by Member Types


Book Author

Download BfK Issue Bfk 272 May 2025
Skip to an Issue:

About Us

Launched in 1980, we’ve reviewed hundreds of new children’s books each year and published articles on every aspect of writing for children.

Read More

Follow Us

Latest News

Choice and reading relevant to their interests = reading for pleasure

June 11, 2025

Ross Montgomery wins the 2025 FCBG Children’s Book Award

June 7, 2025

Michael Rosen and Emily Gravett IBBY UK nominations for Hans Christian Andersen Awards 2026

June 4, 2025

Contact Us

Books for Keeps,
30 Winton Avenue,
London,
N11 2AT

Telephone: 0780 789 3369

ISSN: 0143-909X (this is our International Standard Serial Number).

© Copyright 2025 - Books For Keeps | Proudly Built by Lemongrass Media - Web Design Buckinghamshire
Deeplight Bad Nana: Older Not Wiser
Scroll to top