When Stars Arise

In When Stars Arise, E. G. Alaraj and Martyna Czub have created an endearing board book for our youngest readers as they meander through the closing of the day. Employing a trick Mary Poppins, herself, made famous, our narrator insists that a child “… do not sleep. Don’t close your eyes…” even as the worlds of nature and home get ready for bed.

Czub’s illustrations are the star of this work, moving with the text as “the water gently skips along” toward sleep, and a perfect word for her watercolor style is “gentle”. The toned-down hues and cozy scenery are beautiful; the characters simplistic enough to be an imagined version of you, whoever that may be.

The text is easy to read, and attention has been paid to both rhythm and rhyme. The transition from outdoor to indoor routines is particularly effective in evoking bedtime for young children. Overall, When Stars Arise is a tender little book you can easily welcome into your own little one’s bedtime routine.