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Ladder to the Stars
A lyrically told and beautifully illustrated story about the passage of time.
"It is never too late," said the star. "Why, one hundred years are nothing and no time. To a star, they are light and quick like seeds in the wind. You are still a little girl to us and we are waiting for you. Please come."
On her seventh birthday, a little girl sees a dancing star and makes a wish. Many years later, at the end of her long and happy life, the old woman climbs a very special ladder to the stars and her wish comes true.
This gentle parable addresses the beauty and the inevitability of the cycle of life. Themes of growth, death, and the passage of time are treated in a sensitive manner that opens the door to discussion by families of all faiths and beliefs.
"It is never too late," said the star. "Why, one hundred years are nothing and no time. To a star, they are light and quick like seeds in the wind. You are still a little girl to us and we are waiting for you. Please come."
On her seventh birthday, a little girl sees a dancing star and makes a wish. Many years later, at the end of her long and happy life, the old woman climbs a very special ladder to the stars and her wish comes true.
This gentle parable addresses the beauty and the inevitability of the cycle of life. Themes of growth, death, and the passage of time are treated in a sensitive manner that opens the door to discussion by families of all faiths and beliefs.
- GenresPicture Books
32 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2001
1 person is currently reading
14 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 28, 2017
Awards: None
Grade Level: Preschool to Third Grade
Original Summary: The story is about a little girl who sings "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and makes a wish that she could dance with the stars. 100 years later, her wish has come true. She spends the rest of her days dancing with the stars.
Original Review: This story was interesting to read because I liked that it talked about wishes and incorporated the song into the beginning. As the story went on and the little girl grew old, I appreciated that the story explained how her wish came true over the years even though she didn't realize it. One thing I wasn't sure about how to approach to the ending with a classroom of students because the story clearly outlines the cycle of life and at the end the girl ends up dancing with the stars but that means that she actually passed away.
2-3 Possible Uses in the Classrooms: (1) I would use this story in the classroom to have a group discussion about wishes and what they are/what they mean. (2) I could also give each student a piece of paper and ask them to draw what it is that they wish for. (3) Lastly, possibly incorporating a lesson about humans and the cycle of life into the reading of the story, and how I would go about doing that would depend on how old the students are.
Grade Level: Preschool to Third Grade
Original Summary: The story is about a little girl who sings "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and makes a wish that she could dance with the stars. 100 years later, her wish has come true. She spends the rest of her days dancing with the stars.
Original Review: This story was interesting to read because I liked that it talked about wishes and incorporated the song into the beginning. As the story went on and the little girl grew old, I appreciated that the story explained how her wish came true over the years even though she didn't realize it. One thing I wasn't sure about how to approach to the ending with a classroom of students because the story clearly outlines the cycle of life and at the end the girl ends up dancing with the stars but that means that she actually passed away.
2-3 Possible Uses in the Classrooms: (1) I would use this story in the classroom to have a group discussion about wishes and what they are/what they mean. (2) I could also give each student a piece of paper and ask them to draw what it is that they wish for. (3) Lastly, possibly incorporating a lesson about humans and the cycle of life into the reading of the story, and how I would go about doing that would depend on how old the students are.
July 26, 2023
A little girl made a wish to dance with the star in the sky. The wind, clouds and weather all came together to formulate a plan. The wind helped plant a seed in the little girls garden. 100 years has passed, and the tree has finally reached its peak. The star had told the little girl, who is now an older woman, to climb the tree to the sky, so she could dance with the star. The little girl has finally fulfilled her dreams by dancing with the star in the sky. I learned that, however, old you are don’t ever let your age deteriorate you from accomplishing your goals.
March 6, 2017
Lovely!
May 11, 2014
This is a beautifully written and illustrated book about death and the passage of time. On her seventh birthday, a little girl makes a wish to dance with a glittering star that she can see through her window. The star heeds her wish and soon a tree is growing in the little girl's garden. One hundred years later, (on her 107th birthday) the heroine is kept awake by the same star who remembers her wish and invites her to come
and dance. Despite her aching limbs, the old lady slowly starts to climb the tree to the heavens. The profound lyricism of the tale is complemented by the exquisite, dreamlike illustrations. Younger children may enjoy and understand the story at face value whilst older children will understand the story on a deeper level as being about death. The book could be used in class to open up further discussion and is suitable for ages 3-7.
and dance. Despite her aching limbs, the old lady slowly starts to climb the tree to the heavens. The profound lyricism of the tale is complemented by the exquisite, dreamlike illustrations. Younger children may enjoy and understand the story at face value whilst older children will understand the story on a deeper level as being about death. The book could be used in class to open up further discussion and is suitable for ages 3-7.
May 18, 2015
A truly wonderful book about life. I bought this book on the passing of my father to try to ease the explanation of mortality to my young son. I love this story. And I have used it many times for each of my kids to explain ageing, life and loss.
October 28, 2015
Death
Personification
Tree
Birthday
Twinkle twinkle
Personification
Tree
Birthday
Twinkle twinkle
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews