STAR CLIMBING

Lush, rich illustrations highlight a fanciful nighttime adventure. Unable to sleep, a child leaves behind an enormous bed and goes star climbing up into the moonlit sky. Low-hung clouds (rolling similarly to the quilt left at home) lead to constellations. The child balances on Pegasus with arms outstretched, dips a finger into a placid pool from the back of Cygnus and dives into the golden light next to Pisces. The scenes are darkly muted in nighttime ambiance, but colors and movement flow across the pages. Johnson and Fancher’s deft light sources throw a glowing shine onto the child’s pajamas, skin and hair. The roundly colored animals are there all along—first as quilt decoration, then as constellations, then back again. Excellent figure drawing and a final spread with brief constellation history round out this peaceful, vivid visual treat that will beckon readers into starry dreams. (Picture book. 2-5)