What a wonderful little story. The idea that someone else might outshine you is practically a universal feeling for kids. I love that the "star" big sister is accomplishing very normal and real things, which makes the protagonist even more relatable. The loving and supportive relationship with the grandpa is understated and sweet.

The illustrations add to the story, and in fact they take on quite a bit of the important story telling. It is only through the illustrations that we learn the girl grows up to be an astronaut, or at least she *could* do so. Maybe it is something she is dreaming of but regardless I see this as a great way to teach about how a small kernel of something (be it stardust or an idea) can lead to great things. ( )

A little girl always feels left out of the spotlight. Everyone calls her sister a star and she's just not quite as good at everything despite her best wishes. Grandpa comes to the rescue explaining the world was made with a bang and literally everything in our universe is made of stardust, even her! I loved that special bond between Granddad and Granddaughter. I thought the story fell a little flat and she should have had a chance to shine. What is really special about this book are the gorgeous illustrations and especially the colors. It is such a pretty book! #stardust ( )

Lovely illustrations and story for youngsters

I gifted it to my niece and she adores this book! ( )

There are books about sibling jealousy, and books about the origins of the universe, but until now I've never seen a picture book that combines the two! Stardust tells the story of a little girl who is always overshadowed by her big sister, until one day her grandfather explains that we are all literally made of stardust - and this means we can all shine in our own unique ways. For our protagonist, this sparks an interest in astronomy that leads her to literally land among the stars.

This affirming story will especially resonate with younger siblings, but sends an important message to all children. The illustrations are lovely, particularly the scenes under starry night skies, and the shiny cover will undoubtedly catch the eye of young readers. The storyline deftly weaves together the girl's relatable everyday life with the more abstract story of the universe - her sibling relationship is set up nicely in the first few pages, and the grandfather's lyrical explanation of the big bang is simple but deep - however, the ending feels a bit rushed and disjointed. Readers may miss the grandfather's gift of a small handheld telescope (as I did on my first few reads), not referenced in the text and easily mistaken for a flashlight in its first illustration. It feels like a few pages of the story are missing, to show the girl unwrapping the gift and starting to explore astronomy; instead we jump straight to seeing her new passion reflected in a bedroom full of space-themed items, and then right into a spaceship.

That said, this is a beautiful book that manages to be educational, uplifting, and fun all at once. Showing a female protagonist pursuing a STEM career doesn't hurt either. Definitely recommend for children of all ages. ( )

This book presents a cute way to show children that each person has their own talents and abilities, especially for a child who feels overshadowed by a sibling. The illustrations charm the pages with color and depth.