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Sterntaler
There was once a young girl whose only possessions were the clothes on her back and a piece of bread some kind soul had given to her. But even these few things meant much to others less fortunate than herself, and in selfless love, the girl gave the little she had away. In this beautiful Grimm tale, her virtue is rewarded a thousand times over.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
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145 people want to read
About the author
Jacob Grimm
5,750 books2,259 followersGerman philologist and folklorist Jakob Ludwig Karl Grimm in 1822 formulated Grimm's Law, the basis for much of modern comparative linguistics. With his brother Wilhelm Karl Grimm (1786-1859), he collected Germanic folk tales and published them as
Grimm's Fairy Tales
(1812-1815).
Indo-European stop consonants, represented in Germanic, underwent the regular changes that Grimm's Law describes; this law essentially states that Indo-European p shifted to Germanic f, t shifted to th, and k shifted to h. Indo-European b shifted to Germanic p, d shifted to t, and g shifted to k. Indo-European bh shifted to Germanic b, dh shifted to d, and gh shifted to g.
This jurist and mythologist also authored the monumental German Dictionary and his Deutsche Mythologie .
Adapted from Wikipedia.
Indo-European stop consonants, represented in Germanic, underwent the regular changes that Grimm's Law describes; this law essentially states that Indo-European p shifted to Germanic f, t shifted to th, and k shifted to h. Indo-European b shifted to Germanic p, d shifted to t, and g shifted to k. Indo-European bh shifted to Germanic b, dh shifted to d, and gh shifted to g.
This jurist and mythologist also authored the monumental German Dictionary and his Deutsche Mythologie .
Adapted from Wikipedia.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
February 6, 2025
Yes, in The Star Child J. Alison James generally does a delightfully good job translating (and also adapting) Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm's Märchen (folktale) Die Sterntaler and that her presented text is both contents and narrative flow wise majorly and nicely reflective of what the Brothers Grimm originally wrote in in German (with both Die Sterntaler and The Star Child telling their story of rewarded selflessness from the heavens, from the stars lovingly, tenderly, and that yes indeed, because of how inherently sweet Die Sterntaler is, with no goriness, with no violence, with no nastiness, with no evil, this was also one of my very favourite Brothers Grimm Märchen when I was a child, and to be honest, I wish Die Sterntaler was also more universally known and appreciated, so indeed, I do hope that The Star Child might remedy this a trifle).
However and that having been said, personally speaking, my adult reading self kind of considers that a book title like for example Coins from the Stars or Pennies from Heaven would actually make a bit more sense than The Star Child, as this in my opinion kind of assumes that the main protagonist in fact comes from the sky akin to an angel and is not like is the actual tale rewarded for her selflessness and generosity by having the stars become gold coins as well as clothing to replace what she had given away, that after she has given all of her clothing away and is basically naked, the little girl is both financially rewarded and is also finely and comfortably clothed by and from the stars above (and not to mention that I also prefer how in Die Sterntaler Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm leave their young protagonist nameless, for by James in The Star Child having the little girl be named Mathilde, this kind of makes the story less universal and that I for one have always adored the anonymous omnipresence and generality of Die Sterntaler, although my issues with the book title and that the protagonist has a name in The Star Child are extremely minor and thus have not and do not negatively affect my reading pleasure at all regarding The Star Child and how wonderfully closely and religiously it generally mirrors Die Starntaler).
Now with regard to Bernadette Watts' accompanying artwork for The Star Child, yes and indeed, her illustrations are absolutely aesthetically gorgeous, are a colourful and also replete with visual emotion mirror of J. Alison James' featured translation (adaptation) of Die Sterntaler, both reflecting the text and also sometimes expanding on it. And just to point out that I do really appreciate how after the little girl has given away all of her clothing, including her undergarments, she is depicted by Watts in The Star Child as being naked, for yes, she is certainly textually being described by Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm in Die Sterntaler and by James in The Star Child as being without clothing at the end and that it certainly therefore also makes sense for Bernadette Watts to illustrate this (although sadly, that one small image of the little girl, of Mathilde being in the nude could likely render The Star Child unacceptable for many religiously fanatical puritans, as might perhaps even the story itself since it does certainly even if only very much in passing so to speak mention in both Die Sterntaler and in The Star Child that before the stars shower coins and clothing, the little girl is indeed totally and utterly sans vetements).
So yes, five stars for The Star Child, for the combination of J. Alison James' adaptation of Die Sterntaler and Bernadette Watts' delightful and glorious pictures, but lowered to four stars (although very highly recommended), as I am missing an author's note and that the information on the Brothers Grimm on the side flaps of the dust jacket is both a bit basic and also not really correct either (since it has now been proven that Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm did not like is stated in The Star Child collect their Märchen from peasants and villagers but generally from their educated circle of friends in Kassel, and with many of these being of French and in particular of Huguenot background).
However and that having been said, personally speaking, my adult reading self kind of considers that a book title like for example Coins from the Stars or Pennies from Heaven would actually make a bit more sense than The Star Child, as this in my opinion kind of assumes that the main protagonist in fact comes from the sky akin to an angel and is not like is the actual tale rewarded for her selflessness and generosity by having the stars become gold coins as well as clothing to replace what she had given away, that after she has given all of her clothing away and is basically naked, the little girl is both financially rewarded and is also finely and comfortably clothed by and from the stars above (and not to mention that I also prefer how in Die Sterntaler Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm leave their young protagonist nameless, for by James in The Star Child having the little girl be named Mathilde, this kind of makes the story less universal and that I for one have always adored the anonymous omnipresence and generality of Die Sterntaler, although my issues with the book title and that the protagonist has a name in The Star Child are extremely minor and thus have not and do not negatively affect my reading pleasure at all regarding The Star Child and how wonderfully closely and religiously it generally mirrors Die Starntaler).
Now with regard to Bernadette Watts' accompanying artwork for The Star Child, yes and indeed, her illustrations are absolutely aesthetically gorgeous, are a colourful and also replete with visual emotion mirror of J. Alison James' featured translation (adaptation) of Die Sterntaler, both reflecting the text and also sometimes expanding on it. And just to point out that I do really appreciate how after the little girl has given away all of her clothing, including her undergarments, she is depicted by Watts in The Star Child as being naked, for yes, she is certainly textually being described by Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm in Die Sterntaler and by James in The Star Child as being without clothing at the end and that it certainly therefore also makes sense for Bernadette Watts to illustrate this (although sadly, that one small image of the little girl, of Mathilde being in the nude could likely render The Star Child unacceptable for many religiously fanatical puritans, as might perhaps even the story itself since it does certainly even if only very much in passing so to speak mention in both Die Sterntaler and in The Star Child that before the stars shower coins and clothing, the little girl is indeed totally and utterly sans vetements).
So yes, five stars for The Star Child, for the combination of J. Alison James' adaptation of Die Sterntaler and Bernadette Watts' delightful and glorious pictures, but lowered to four stars (although very highly recommended), as I am missing an author's note and that the information on the Brothers Grimm on the side flaps of the dust jacket is both a bit basic and also not really correct either (since it has now been proven that Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm did not like is stated in The Star Child collect their Märchen from peasants and villagers but generally from their educated circle of friends in Kassel, and with many of these being of French and in particular of Huguenot background).
January 20, 2021
Lovely story (I don't remember encountering it before, so I can't speak to the adaptation) and beautiful illustrations. I love Watts' work here, every page is so gorgeous I just want to stare and stare and wish I could frame them for my wall! I will certainly seek out more of her work. (I enjoyed her work in Harvey Hare, Postman Extraordinaire some years back somehow hadn't realized she illustrated so many folk and fairy tales!)
November 30, 2019
"The fly is thy brother; do it no harm. The wild birds that roam through the forest have their freedom. Snare them not for thy pleasure. God make the blind worm and mole, and each has its own place. Who art thou to bring pain into God's world ? "
Goodness this was beautiful, and among the best I've ever read... A story which after completed stays with you a long time before you can let it go, like a lost true love. It's actually been a few days since I read it, and I'm still at a loss, wishing the protagonist's soul my very best. Yep, that good.
Here is the version I was fortunate enough to experience (I believe Oscar Wild may have adopted it from a Grimm fairytale) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG041...
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Goodness this was beautiful, and among the best I've ever read... A story which after completed stays with you a long time before you can let it go, like a lost true love. It's actually been a few days since I read it, and I'm still at a loss, wishing the protagonist's soul my very best. Yep, that good.
Here is the version I was fortunate enough to experience (I believe Oscar Wild may have adopted it from a Grimm fairytale) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG041...
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September 14, 2024
4.5 stars (4/10 hearts). When I first read this story in the value Village aisle, I was moved almost to tears. It’s such a delightful story with a great moral. After a little while, though, it occurred to me that it was rather illogical. The people taking from the child are often better off or have someone to help them (say a husband, parents, etc) which made it puzzling to me why she had to depriver herself to help them. Also, the ending bugged me a little, though the illustration of her undressed is blurry and from far away. It’s still a great story, and the artwork is lovely, so I would totally read it and discuss it with my kids… but I don’t like it enough to buy it, even from Value Village.
November 29, 2017
I really liked this book. The story shows that you can always find someone with less than you, even if you have little yourself. And blessings come to a cheerful giver. The illustrations were lovely and felt warm and loving. I liked looking for all the animals and birds on each page.
November 1, 2025
Nii armas ja kaunid illustratsioonid ✨🧚♀️⭐️
December 21, 2019
I thought this was a cute book with a good meaning about always giving to those less fortunate than you and how you get rewarded for your kindness in unexpected ways!
September 23, 2017
The story of a child who gives away all she has and is at last rewarded from heaven and clothed in the beauty that is to found within her. I think this book would make a great book for further discussion with a child it is read to. How can we give away all that we have and end up with more?
If we are too poor to have anything to share, then we are poor indeed.
If we are too poor to have anything to share, then we are poor indeed.
January 26, 2023
Căci, este mai ferice să dai decât să primești - aceasta ar fi idea ce stă la baza acestei cărți, o idee care care o punem pe inima copiilor noștrii, ei vor crește într-un mod mai armonios, învățând că viața este mai dură cu unii oamenii, și mai blândă cu alții. Cei privilegiați sunt cei datori să fie sprijin pentru cei în lipsă.
August 2, 2021
Lovely illustrations!
January 28, 2016
Grade: KG-1
Summary: A little girl finds herself without family after her parents die. She owns nothing more than the clothes she wears. She goes out into the world to find her luck, but all she finds is other people needing help. She gives to everyone in need, until one day she stands quite naked, as she gives away her last piece of clothing and night falls. The stars come out and fall from the sky, dressing her in the finest linen and showering her with gold coins.
Review: This retelling of Star Penny is brought to life with delicate illustrations by Eugen Sopko. The illustrations do an especially good job depicting how big and wide the world can appears to a small child. The gentle colors seem to indicate that the child travels through the seasons, but that is left to the reader to figure out.
In class uses:
-read aloud
- dramatic play using puppets
-talk about the genre of fiction
-talk about sharing/ the message in this story
- identify main events
Summary: A little girl finds herself without family after her parents die. She owns nothing more than the clothes she wears. She goes out into the world to find her luck, but all she finds is other people needing help. She gives to everyone in need, until one day she stands quite naked, as she gives away her last piece of clothing and night falls. The stars come out and fall from the sky, dressing her in the finest linen and showering her with gold coins.
Review: This retelling of Star Penny is brought to life with delicate illustrations by Eugen Sopko. The illustrations do an especially good job depicting how big and wide the world can appears to a small child. The gentle colors seem to indicate that the child travels through the seasons, but that is left to the reader to figure out.
In class uses:
-read aloud
- dramatic play using puppets
-talk about the genre of fiction
-talk about sharing/ the message in this story
- identify main events
April 6, 2011
Another great book for children when a lesson needs to be taught. This book did a great job of showing how no good deed goes unnoticed. She gave and gave until she had nothing even when she started out with nothing. This book does a great job of showing that kids can do good things for others. Even though she gave everything she had away she was still happy, this showing that you do not need material things to be happy, something kids of today think is very important. This little girl was given a whole new set of cloths and boots and everything she needed from the "Stars" which is not how it would happen to us but can teach the children that when good things are done someone is always watching and they will be noticed for those good deeds. This book also had great pictures and lots of colors and detail. The words were simple and easy to read.
March 15, 2011
This is such a simple fable from The Brothers Grimm, but it is such a poignant story. To always give of oneself is a wonderful lesson to learn. We often times might be down because of the things that we don't have, but we always need to remember that someone, somewhere, has it worse off than we do. This is a simple story that most children would enjoy. The artwork was beautiful and you simply fell in love with the little girl. There was indeed a happy ending for the little girl which hopefully reinforces that good things can happen to good people and that good things do come to those who wait.
Read
June 22, 2024Una niña pobre que ha perdido a sus padres y, pese a no tener nada, ofrece lo poco que tiene a las personas necesitadas que se encuentra en su camino y que le piden ayuda.
En «Los táleros de las estrellas» los hermanos Grimm nos regalan una breve narración de carácter optimista sobre la caridad, la gratitud, la empatía y la bondad.
👏🏻 La recomiendo por:
- Estilo narrativo de los autores.
- Brevedad.
- Ambientación.
- Emotividad.
♥️ Te gustará si:
- Buscas lecturas breves para disfrutar con calma.
- Buscas cuentos de inspiración navideña.
- Si te gusta leer clásicos y/o el estilo tan personal de los autores.
En «Los táleros de las estrellas» los hermanos Grimm nos regalan una breve narración de carácter optimista sobre la caridad, la gratitud, la empatía y la bondad.
👏🏻 La recomiendo por:
- Estilo narrativo de los autores.
- Brevedad.
- Ambientación.
- Emotividad.
♥️ Te gustará si:
- Buscas lecturas breves para disfrutar con calma.
- Buscas cuentos de inspiración navideña.
- Si te gusta leer clásicos y/o el estilo tan personal de los autores.
January 13, 2013
Good, lesser known Grimm Bros. fable about an impoverished, orphaned little girl who gives every possession she has, both food and clothing, to help other people she deems worse off. When she has no worldly possesions left, she stands naked in the forest. A miracle happens - the stars shower down and she receives gifts of coin and fine clothing, whereby she will never want for anything ever again. The gentle, painterly, illustrations make this picture book stand out.
For ages 4-10.
For ages 4-10.
August 28, 2013
The artwork was pretty but too mute, monochromatic and subdued for any child honestly.
It is a religious story saying how nothing material matters as long as you have God's blessing in your heart and if you pass what you can on to others he will reward you accordingly.
This might be a good 2nd grade book to have around a church daycare or after school program but I don't think it would be highly beneficial within the actual secular classroom for more reasons than just the message.
It is a religious story saying how nothing material matters as long as you have God's blessing in your heart and if you pass what you can on to others he will reward you accordingly.
This might be a good 2nd grade book to have around a church daycare or after school program but I don't think it would be highly beneficial within the actual secular classroom for more reasons than just the message.
January 7, 2011
I love, love, love this book. It is an incredibly sweet story of a young girl, alone and with nothing in the world. Yet, she thinks nothing of helping others. Sopko's illustrations go perfectly with the text, emphasizing the girl's loneliness and perseverance to keep going, while giving to others, until she is ultimately rewarded.
December 30, 2018
Clásicos infantiles, y algo que siento que los caracteriza a éstos es la manera un tanto cruel con la cual son contados. En ellos podrás encontrar la importancia que se le dan a los valores y como son recompensados; así como es que son castigadas de alguna manera las personas que carecen de estos valores.
August 15, 2008
This was my favorite book as a child. It is one of the lesser known Grimms Brothers tales. I found it in Spain when I was studying abroad as a college student as well. I have been trying to collect as many as I can.
February 12, 2017
(3.5)
Los cuentos gustan de cierta forma y los finales por alguna razón me gustaron, pero luego empiezan a ser repetitivas las historias y cansabanda los relatos, de verdad agradecí que fueran cortos en algunos casos.
Los cuentos gustan de cierta forma y los finales por alguna razón me gustaron, pero luego empiezan a ser repetitivas las historias y cansabanda los relatos, de verdad agradecí que fueran cortos en algunos casos.
December 30, 2017
Cuentos clásicos que ejemplifican los valores humanos. "Y la eficaz ayuda que se prestaron entre sí, sirvió para demostrar que quienes saben rodearse de buenos amigos encuentran la tranquilidad y el bienestar que ansían."
May 22, 2011
Unsubtle, straightforward.
December 30, 2014
Sweet story about sharing and giving. Will probably keep around for next month, when we talk about poverty.
May 30, 2015
Algunos cuentos estan bien, pero llega un momento en el que todo se vuelve monótono y aburrido. Me esperaba más, hermanos Grimm.
August 3, 2015
Cuentos clásicos infantiles. Una época en la que había mayor crudeza para escribir y en la que era importante dejar mensajes a los jóvenes lectores.
January 17, 2016
Beautiful illustrations and story.
July 4, 2015
Beautifully and gently illustrated story that rewards the virtue of generosity.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews