The Hope Star

The Tired But Crafty Mummy
Book Club:
The Hope Star

“Izar is the brightest star in the universe.
She journeys through the universe carrying out kind deeds.
One day she finds a planet that is dark and covered in shadow.
There are things living on this planet. But they are missing something…
Izar has to find a way to help this planet become bright and full of hope. “

Mummy’s Review

This week, everyone will be going pancake crazy seeing how high they can flip them and how many sweet toppings they can eat without being sick!  Pancake Day, or Shrove Tuesday, to give it its official name heralds the arrival of Lent on Ash Wednesday.  Traditionally this has been a time where people choose to give something up for forty days.  In my life before children, I chose to give up a variety of things across the years including alcohol and meat.  When Rory was old enough to know about Lent we decided that instead of giving something up, we would start something instead.  We try to do one random act of kindness for each day of Lent.  With all the news we hear about climate change, plastic pollution and generally caring for the planet, we have decided that this year we will try to do a random act of kindness for planet Earth for each day of Lent.  I think this one is going to be a real challenge but we’ll give it a good go!

We were really delighted when Austin Macauley Publisher kindly gifted us ‘The Hope Star’ by Eric Brutnall as its main theme is all about kindness.  In fact, the story reminded me of one of my favourite Roald Dahl quotes from The Twits:
“You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”

The story is all about a star called Izar who is the brightest star in the universe.  She travels around carrying out kind deeds and the more kindness she spreads the brighter she becomes.  She often admired planet Earth and it’s beautiful blue and green colours.  However one day she notices that instead of being blue and green, the Earth is turning grey because people have stopped being kind to each other.  She travels to Earth to try and spread some kindness but she needs to spread so much kindness and hope, that she uses up all of her own hope and loses her bright shine.  Can the people of Earth mend their ways and save Izar before it’s too late?

This is a wonderful tale about the importance of being kind to each other and how much happier people are when they are kind.  The message is put across in a very child friendly way with the lovely visual of the brightness of the star.   I love the unusual style of the illustrations which look like they have been drawn with pastels. They are big and bright and really add to the story.  We really enjoyed sharing this story together.

Rory’s Review

I love everything about space and astronomy so it was great to read a story set in the stars.  Izar is a small star, travelling across the universe growing by spreading hope and kindness.  She dreams of visiting the greeny-blue planet and when her wish comes true she helps the people there to grow by sharing her kindness and she destroys the grey mist.  But she must share so much of her hope and kindness that she begins to fade.  Can they help her with their kindness?
Eric Brutnall’s book has excellent, big pictures of the stars and characters.  It is a story of hope, helpfulness and joy and I enjoyed reading it.  I’d really recommend this book and would give it 10/10.