Published by Candlewick

Summary:  The narrator has trouble falling asleep, feeling tiny when thinking of the vastness of the universe.  Dad announces one morning that the two of them are going camping, and they pack the pick-up truck and drive off to the desert.  Once there, they jump in the dunes, observe beetles and birds, build a campfire, and watch the sun set.  When it’s time to sleep in the bed of the pick-up, Dad explains that stars are made of the energy, just like the beetles, the birds, and the two of them.  They start to name the stars after people they know, and before long, both are asleep.  In the morning, they pack up and drive home, where they discover that Mom has been busy in their absence, painting glow-in-the-dark stars all over the child’s bedroom walls and ceiling.  40 pages; ages 4-8.

Pros:  The watercolor paintings capture the beauty of the desert, and the simple story shows the love between parents and child and the safety that provides.

Cons:  Campfires are better after sunset, not before.