Reviews

Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Review: Reviewed by Demetria Head for Readers' Favorite

The Night the Stars Went Missing by Arthur J. Gonzalez is a delightful children’s picture book that follows the adventurous young Winston, who spends his nights gazing at the stars. One night, Winston notices that the stars have mysteriously disappeared. Sensing that something is amiss, he embarks on a whimsical journey to uncover the truth. His quest takes him to the clouds, where he encounters a comical shooting star who reveals that the stars haven't vanished but are hiding. They fear the same stress and harm that humans have inflicted on their friend, planet Earth. It falls upon Winston to convince the stars that their presence is vital and to coax them back into the night sky.

Arthur J. Gonzalez crafts a captivating tale with The Night the Stars Went Missing, blending an engaging storyline with enchanting illustrations that will intrigue young readers. The plot is imaginative and heartwarming, delivering a meaningful message about the impact of human actions on the environment. Winston is an endearing protagonist whose determination and kindness resonate throughout the story. The humorous shooting star and the vividly depicted night sky add layers of charm and whimsy to the narrative. Arthur J. Gonzalez’s book not only entertains but also educates, gently encouraging children to consider the importance of caring for Earth. This enchanting picture book is perfect for bedtime stories, offering both a delightful adventure and a valuable lesson in stewardship and empathy. The Night the Stars Went Missing is sure to become a beloved favorite for children and parents alike.

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Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Link: BookTrib

Review: Broken Promises Made Right

Aided by Krapivina Olga’s lush, painterly illustrations, the story follows Winston as he climbs to the top of his family’s lighthouse and peers out the telescope. It seems the narrative itself of The Night the Stars Went Missing is touched by magic: the line between reality and fantasy blurs as the moon tells Winston to follow a ladder of stardust up into the skies.

Atop the puffy clouds above, he finds one singular star who explains the astral plight. “Why wouldn’t we be?” it says when Winston asks why the stars are hiding. “So many broken promises … look what’s happened to our friend, the Earth … the humans promised to take care of the Earth. How are we not to think that we are next?”

Horrified, Winston swears then and there to help rectify the plight on Earth. He promises every star that, while he might just be one boy, he has a duty to do his best and repair this broken promise on humanity’s behalf. Inspired by Winston’s integrity, the stars begin to have hope that there might be other humans like Winston — humans who care and love the planet, and who are dedicated to righting this wrong.

Healing Through Action

Neither grief nor climate anxiety are easy topics to discuss with young kids, and yet both these topics are inexorably tied to the story of The Night the Stars Went Missing. It’s Winston’s love for his late grandmother that drives him to search for the lost stars, and in the end it’s that same love that convinces the stars to take him seriously. “My grandmother told me that sometimes people do things without realizing the harm it causes,” Winston tells them, “and that we can help by teaching others what they don’t know.”

Gonzalez’s story shows readers that while sadness and anxiety can weigh on us, we do ourselves and others a disservice by letting it paralyze us. It’s through action that we’re able to harness these emotions and put them towards making our world a better place. By the end of the story, Winston feels like he is making his grandma proud by helping heal the earth and fulfilling his promise to the stars. The Night the Stars Went Missing demonstrates to young readers that even if they feel afraid and powerless, each of them have the ability to make positive change in the world.

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Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Link: Literary Titan

Review: Arthur J. Gonzalez’s The Night the Stars Went Missing offers readers a captivating celestial journey through its pages. Winston, a young boy who looks to the stars as a link to his late grandmother, is taken aback when, one evening, the stars disappear. His ensuing journey to retrieve them introduces him to the moon’s wisdom and a shooting star. He soon discovers that the stars’ retreat stems from fears of mistreatment by Earth. With this revelation, Winston works to bring the stars back to their rightful sky.

This book blends astronomy with eco-awareness in a manner fitting for elementary school readers. The illustrations are vibrant and engaging, pulling readers into the tale. But it’s more than just pretty pictures; Gonzalez’s characters, each unique, elevate the story, making it even more captivating. Winston’s journey to mend the sky and address human errors is presented in a way that simplifies complex topics, fostering understanding and highlighting the importance of caring for our environment. The book’s pacing and vivid imagery create an immersive experience, especially for young readers, presenting global conservation topics without overwhelming them with dense text.

In The Night the Stars Went Missing, Gonzalez’s story pairs perfectly with captivating illustrations. This picture book entertains and encourages readers to consider their role in protecting our planet. Through this children’s book, readers don’t just consume a tale; they’re inspired to act as stewards of our world.

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Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Link: Literary Titan

The Arthur J. Gonzalez’s The Night the Stars Went Missing offers readers a captivating celestial journey through its pages. Winston, a young boy who looks to the stars as a link to his late grandmother, is taken aback when, one evening, the stars disappear. His ensuing journey to retrieve them introduces him to the moon’s wisdom and a shooting star. He soon discovers that the stars’ retreat stems from fears of mistreatment by Earth. With this revelation, Winston works to bring the stars back to their rightful sky.

Rating: 5

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Rating: 5 / 5 stars

Link: OnlineBookClub

Review: The Night the Stars Went Missing is a children's book written by Arthur J. Gonzalez that focuses on the topic of the environment. Estrella, Winston's grandmother, once told him that stars are made of promises. One evening, Winston noticed that the stars in the sky had vanished, which caused him so much concern that he was unable to fall asleep. He thought it would be a good idea to look through the telescope, but all he could see was the moon lying in its slumber. He roused the moon from its slumber and questioned it about the disappearance of the stars.

When I saw this book for the first time, the first thing that piqued my interest was how the illustrations were done because they were absolutely magical. In addition, the book is written in rhyme, and the material is presented in a way that is simple and straightforward, making it an excellent choice for the readers to whom it will be distributed. The book touches on the topic of how humans are not taking care of the planet.

I absolutely adored the illustrations; not only were they rich in detail, but the colour palette was wonderful as well. I loved everything about the illustrations, but especially the stars. The story was also about something entirely new, and it will encourage your child's creative side by fostering their imagination. In addition to this, I adored the lesson that could be drawn from the story as well as the manner in which it was told.

There was nothing about this book that I didn't like, and as a result, I give it a perfect score of five out of five stars. I adored everything about it, from the rhyming to the illustrations to the moral of the story and everything in between. The book must have been edited meticulously because I couldn't find any mistakes, and it reads very smoothly.

I would suggest reading this book to any child between the ages of five and eight who has a vivid imagination and enjoys reading books about the night sky. This book is also for children who are concerned about the state of the world's ecosystems.

— Christell Lindeque

(Official Review for OnlineBookClub.org)