Bright Star

A Pura Belpré Illustrator Honor Book
Winner of the Tomás Rivera Mexican Children's Book Award

Inspiring, reassuring, and beautifully illustrated, this new story from the creator of the New York Times bestseller Dreamers is the perfect gift for every child.

A New York Times Best Children's Book of the Year

With the combination of powerful, spare language and sumptuous, complex imagery characteristic of her work, Yuyi Morales weaves the tale of a fawn making her way through a landscape that is dangerous, beautiful--and full of potential. A gentle voice urges her onward, to face her fears and challenge the obstacles that seek to hold her back.

Child, you are awake!
You are alive!
You are a bright star,
Inside our hearts.

With a voice full of calm, contemplative wisdom, readers are invited to listen and observe, to accept themselves--and to dare to shout!

In a world full of uncertainty, Bright Star seeks to offer reassurance and courage. Yuyi Morales' first book since her New York Times bestseller Dreamers explores the borderlands--the plants, animals, and insects that make their home in the desert, and the people who live and travel through this unique and beautiful part of the world.

Created with a combination of techniques including hand-embroidered lettering, painting, sketching, digital paintings with textures from photographs of the Sonoran Desert, this stunning book is full of beauty--from the handwoven blanket of the endpapers through the last inspiring spread of young families facing their future with determination and hope.

A Spanish language edition, Lucero, is also available.

A People Magazine Best Kids Book of the Year
A Washington Post Best Children's Book of the Year
An NPR 'Book We Love!'
A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of the Year
An ALSC Notable Children's Book
A CCBC Choice
A CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book
A CSMCL Best Multicultural Children's Book of the Year
An Evanston Public Library Great Books for Kids pick!


Author: Yuyi Morales
Publisher: Neal Porter Books
Published: 09/07/2021
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.05lbs
Size: 10.08h x 10.16w x 0.47d
ISBN: 9780823443284
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 1.2
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Lower Grade
Quiz #/Name: 515695 / Bright Star


Award: Pura Belpre Award - Honor Book


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 07/19/2021
Kirkus Reviews 08/01/2021
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 09/01/2021
Horn Book Magazine 09/01/2021 pg. 77
School Library Journal 09/01/2021 pg. 71
Booklist 09/21/2021 pg. 81
Shelf Awareness 09/14/2021

About the Author
Born in Xalapa, Mexico, where she currently resides, Yuyi Morales lived for many years in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she still maintains close relations with booksellers and librarians. She has won the prestigious Pura Belpré Award for Illustration six times, for Dreamers(2019), Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book (2003), Los Gatos Black on Halloween (2006), Just in Case: A Trickster Tale and Spanish Alphabet Book (2008), Niño Wrestles the World (2013), and Viva Frida (2014), also a Caldecott Honor Book.