Jo Ellen Bogart is a well known and award-winning author of numerous wonderful picture books. Many warm evenings spent at her family cottage inspired her to write this story. Hopefully, this charming tale will help bring this discovery of fireflies to children who may not have the opportunity to experience nature on a regular basis.

     From Millie's attic bedroom window, she has beautiful view of the lake and sky. Millie spends many evening hours gazing out into the moonlight. One evening Millie sees something strange, and she tries to tell her parents about it. Of course, Millie's parents insist that she go back to bed. The next night a very curious Millie sees the strange lights again, and this time she takes her parents out on to the porch to investigate. They find thousands of tiny flying "stars." Millie catches a flying star in her hands and delights at its glowing belly. The family reminisces as they walk along the lake shore, and Millie is finally ready for bed now that she has solved the mystery.

     In this, illustrator Ginette Beaulieu's first picture book, she does a beautiful job on the paintings which were created in oils on linen canvas. The illustrations have a soft dreamy quality to them.

     This story introduces another side of nature with which, sadly, many children won't be familiar. A great bedtime story, The Night the Stars Flew would also make a fine introduction to a unit on insects/nature.

Recommended.