The Star Tree

by Catherine Hyde

It is midnight on Midsummer's Eve and Mia's nightlight has gone out. She climbs on her rocking horse and makes a wish... And so begins a magical midnight journey with the great white owl, the little red hare, the big white bear, and the giant stag, all the way to the Tree of Constellations, where Mia plucks one small star. The great white goose takes her safely home, where now the night light glimmers, star-like, as Mia sleeps. A mysterious, magical picture book with beautiful, dreamlike illustrations.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Mental Health, Fiction

32 pages, Hardcover

First published August 4, 2016

Reviews

[Calista · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that this story feels like a dream. It is a dream like state. The art is impressionist like and it evokes a sense of magic and anything can happen. The story takes place during the midsummer moon. The girl rides several animals. She takes a ride on a great snowy owl looking for the star tree. There is a little red Hare, a giant stag, a polar bear and lastly, a goose.

My niece gave this 3 stars. She said it was half good half not. She was not a fan of the art and yet I loved the art.

This had an etherial quality to it and it struck a lovely chord inside me. It’s bursting with magic. I loved it.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's midsummers night and some magical moonlight shines in to a little girls bedroom. A barn owl flies in at her window and she goes on a magical adventure, riding on the back of a giant swan, charging through a snowy forest on the back of a stag, going up in a hot air balloon with a white bear...

The illustrations are very beautiful, they look like oil pastel and the colours are luminous. The style is soft and fuzzy, gentle and dreamlike, they suit the story perfectly and are a pleasure to look at.

This is an imaginative and peaceful story that feels magical and dreamlike, this would make a wonderfully reassuring bedtime story.

[Allison Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

At Midnight a girl name Mia wakes up and goes on a fantastic magical adventure with her beautiful rocking horse. On her adventure she encounters a great white owl, little red hare, white bear, giant stag, and great white goose. They race to the star tree and pluck a star, then return home. The star glimmers as a night light in her bedroom.

This book is quite possibly one of the most unique children books I've ever seen. The illustrations are beautiful and very original (done in oil pastels). The pages seem to be thicker too. The tone of the story is very calm and would be perfect for a bedtime story, which it's intended to be. I can't wait to read this book to my son during bedtime.

I was given this book through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

[Joanne Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly good. Surreal story with beautifully lyrical text. One clunky poetry passage in the middle. Can see this as a ritual bed-time story or chant. Fine-art pastel illustrations may not appeal to children. Very dreamlike. A new Goodnight Moon.

[~☆starlight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bought this for my little boy as was intrigued by the synopsis so glad I did it's a really lovely book. First of it's illustrated beautifully every page is bright and creative as is the story which is like nothing my son has read previously, well worth the money!

[AnnieM · Rating 2 out of 5]

The busy illustrations made the text difficult to read and the book less enjoyable.

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

okay children's book story with AMAZING illustrations

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simple story set on midsummer night wherein a small girl goes on a fantastical journey. The pictures are beautiful. This is intended as a birthday or Christmas present for my granddaughter, who is about to turn four.

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This isn't really a book for kids. My daughter sighed audibly in boredom as I read it and then asked me to just stop. I finished it on my own and found it really hard to get through.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most beautiful picture books I think I’ve ever read. Such a delicate dream like experience.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the illustrations! Beautiful, magical, but I can't imagine many young children enjoying. I love having it in my personal collection books, however!

[Sandra Bunting · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful children's book. Exquisite illustrations.

[Melanie Gaum · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not a fan of the art and the story was too wordy at times