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“Straightforward, heartfelt words and thin-lined, fully imagined drawings from Desnitskaya (On the Edge of the World) give tender voice to one child’s refugee experience.”

– Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

“A beautiful tale of loss and adjustment; for those who have never had to leave home, perhaps a lesson in insight and empathy. Highly recommended.”

– School Library Journal, Starred Review

A Star Shines Through

Written by Anna Desnitskaya
Illustrated by Anna Desnitskaya
Published by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

A poignant story about a displaced family making a home in the aftermath of war.

We used to live in a big city. In our apartment window was a star-shaped lamp, shining through the cold. I could recognize home from far away. But then the war began, and we left for another country. Everything is different here—the food, the language, even Mom and me. Today Mom bought us a package of scissors, glue, and cardboard. Can we make this place feel a little more like home?

Narrated by a young refugee, A Star Shines Through is based on the experiences of the author-illustrator, who left Russia with her family after the start of the Ukraine War. With an evocative palette of blues and yellows, Anna Desnitskaya shows how making art can create a sense of hope, even amidst emigration and resettling.

Primary ISBN: 9780802856319
Publication Date: August 2024
Available As: Hardcover
Picture Book, Age 05 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , ,

Setting: Russia (Moscow), Israel

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: Refugee

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

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Source: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers