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The Comet
When Nyla is forced to leave her home in the country to start life again in the city, all she can think about is everything she misses from before. So when a comet comes crashing through the city streets and starts growing into a forest, Nyla can’t resist a chance to head somewhere that feels closer to what she had before … but what starts as an escape could be just the thing to make her finally feel at home.
A picture book touching on the stress and pain of moving house and how this effects our relationships and sense of belonging, but also how it can open us up to new experiences – seeing that although we might have to leave places and people we love behind; they never really leave us. We’ll always have them in our memories and in the ability to make new ones.
A picture book touching on the stress and pain of moving house and how this effects our relationships and sense of belonging, but also how it can open us up to new experiences – seeing that although we might have to leave places and people we love behind; they never really leave us. We’ll always have them in our memories and in the ability to make new ones.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2022
3 people are currently reading
271 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
January 13, 2023
1.5 stars. This was a really confusing story. At first it seems that the little girl lives alone with her dad, mum is not around. They live an ideal and happy life until they have to move to the city for Dad's work. All of a sudden mum (or a woman) is there, I don't know if she is meant to have been out of their lives and has come back in or we just haven't seem her yet or she is a new partner for dad? Then the little girl sees a comet and gets covered in paint. Dad is cross, mum (or new mum) is still there but the end pages just show an illustration entitled me and dad. Very confusing and not at all entertaining.
All the other reviews I read really enjoyed this and haven't noticed any confusion so perhaps that is just me. Although all of these 5 star reviews have no likes which I find very odd.
All the other reviews I read really enjoyed this and haven't noticed any confusion so perhaps that is just me. Although all of these 5 star reviews have no likes which I find very odd.
March 4, 2023
Well, I do have to say that Joe Todd-Stanton's 2022 picture book The Comet (which is on the long list for the 2023 Kate Greenaway Medal) has been on the whole rather unexpectedly disappointing, or more to the point frustratingly and annoyingly confusing. Yes, Todd-Stanton's artwork for The Comet certainly is nicely colourful, descriptive and very much lushly imaginative (albeit often also a bit too darkly hued for my personal aesthetics as even the scenes in The Comet that are taking place during broad daylight often visually and illustratively seem to feel like night and darkness are actually and always on the verge of approaching, are looming right around the corner to to speak). And indeed, from my own personal childhood experiences of moving not only from Germany to Canada when I was ten but also like Nyla in The Comet relocating from the country to a very large city, I definitely do think that Joe Todd-Stanton majorly captures in The Comet (and textually as well as visually) Nyla's homesickness and sense of not belonging, of being disconnected after moving, that the city really does not and cannot feel like Nyla belongs there (that she misses the countryside, the stars, the quietude etc.) and that I also appreciate how Nyla tries in The Comet to use her imagination to change things, to make things more colourful and better for her (and that her father also finally understands this and helps Nyla, helps his daughter to achieve this).
However, although the illustrations for The Comet have been decently pleasant and visually agreeable (even if I truly do wish that Joe Todd Stanton would use a bit more brightness and light), and that Nyla's sense of immense culture shock after moving feels realistically heartbreaking and as already alluded to above also totally personally relatable, sorry, but much of the Todd-Stanton's text for The Comet after the move is (at least in my humble opinion) quite majorly and problematically confusing. For in my opinion that entire comet scenario and how this then inspires Nyla and fuels her imagination is rather strange and a bit too fantastical for me and also kind of lessens the very important message presented in Comet that moving, that relocating can be very traumatic for children by sort of replacing this with something fairy-tale like and unrealistic. But even worse (in my opinion) is that by the end of the book, by the end of The Comet, we as readers really do not know whether or not Nyla's father is a single parent, since in the beginning of The Comet Joe Todd-Stanton rather strongly insinuates that there is only Nyla and her father, but by the end of The Comet there is suddenly a woman present (who I want to believe is Nyla'S mother but am not at all sure of this), leaving my impression of The Comet as being a decent enough attempt with some really and truly nice artwork, but that Joe Todd-Stanton has (at least for me) created a story with The Comet that has far too many inconsistencies, too much confusion and definitely too many strange fantasy elements present (both textually and visually) for me to consider more than a high two star rating.
However, although the illustrations for The Comet have been decently pleasant and visually agreeable (even if I truly do wish that Joe Todd Stanton would use a bit more brightness and light), and that Nyla's sense of immense culture shock after moving feels realistically heartbreaking and as already alluded to above also totally personally relatable, sorry, but much of the Todd-Stanton's text for The Comet after the move is (at least in my humble opinion) quite majorly and problematically confusing. For in my opinion that entire comet scenario and how this then inspires Nyla and fuels her imagination is rather strange and a bit too fantastical for me and also kind of lessens the very important message presented in Comet that moving, that relocating can be very traumatic for children by sort of replacing this with something fairy-tale like and unrealistic. But even worse (in my opinion) is that by the end of the book, by the end of The Comet, we as readers really do not know whether or not Nyla's father is a single parent, since in the beginning of The Comet Joe Todd-Stanton rather strongly insinuates that there is only Nyla and her father, but by the end of The Comet there is suddenly a woman present (who I want to believe is Nyla'S mother but am not at all sure of this), leaving my impression of The Comet as being a decent enough attempt with some really and truly nice artwork, but that Joe Todd-Stanton has (at least for me) created a story with The Comet that has far too many inconsistencies, too much confusion and definitely too many strange fantasy elements present (both textually and visually) for me to consider more than a high two star rating.
December 2, 2023
O Tiago deu 30.000 estrelas ⭐️🎄
November 21, 2022
LA COMETA di Joe Todd-Stanton. Un meraviglioso e dolce albo illustrato per bambini, una fiaba piena di magia sulla necessità di accettare le nuove esperienze senza paura e timore. Da 4 anni ❤ https://ilmondodichri.com/la-cometa/
#lacometa #babalibri
#lacometa #babalibri
May 31, 2024
Децата не помнят много неща, но помнят времето, което си бил с тях и емоциите, които са изпитали. Така се случва и с Найла, когато се местят в града, където се виждат само 7 звезди на небето. И за да си върне емоция, рисува по стените комета, и то каква картина.
October 28, 2024
Adorable, le sujet est touchant. Je pense que c'est un livre interressant à recommander au enfant qui vivent un déménagement. C'est cool d'avoir un papa qui est au cœur du récit.
September 8, 2023
i love EVERYTHING about this book!
April 25, 2024
M'ha fet caure llàgrimes. Ilustracions precioses
January 31, 2024
La comète ou comment les enfants font passer leur mal-être par des "bêtises". Un récit sur une jolie relation père/fille, sur le déménagement et la solitude, sur l'art et la nature. Illustré avec le même brio que ses précédents albums: un auteur à suivre, assurément !
January 16, 2026
This is such a beautiful and touching book. The illustrations are very emotive and vibrant which makes the read more enjoyable and engaging. I think this is a very useful book for children to read as it is very relatable in terms of new situations and change. I also particularly love the link to nature and art as I am passionate about these areas myself, and children can learn a lot about their feelings and expressing themselves in this way.
July 24, 2022
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Thank you Walker Books for this book in exchange for an honest review
Gotta love it when such a little book has such a mighty punch! Moving into a different house, in a different location can be extremely hard on young ones, that is until you discover a comet in the sky.
The illustrations are gorgeous, fun and vibrant and the story was very touching. Such a fantastic little book!
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Thank you Walker Books for this book in exchange for an honest review
Gotta love it when such a little book has such a mighty punch! Moving into a different house, in a different location can be extremely hard on young ones, that is until you discover a comet in the sky.
The illustrations are gorgeous, fun and vibrant and the story was very touching. Such a fantastic little book!
September 4, 2024
Nyla lives happily with her dad in a place where she can hear the waves, see trees and a lot of stars in the sky.
When her father finds a new job, though, they have to move to the city and everything looks very unfamiliar, until she sees... a comet! A magical one that will show Nyla's dad her feelings and memories, transforming their lives after that ❤
Sweet story about moving and changing situations in life with delicate illustrations to be enjoyed with care.
Joe Todd-Stanton's books are pure art! I could dive in the worlds and places he creates and stay there for a long, long time - this is something every reader should do when having one of his stories in his/her hands! Absolutely beautiful, both the story and the illustrations!
When her father finds a new job, though, they have to move to the city and everything looks very unfamiliar, until she sees... a comet! A magical one that will show Nyla's dad her feelings and memories, transforming their lives after that ❤
Sweet story about moving and changing situations in life with delicate illustrations to be enjoyed with care.
Joe Todd-Stanton's books are pure art! I could dive in the worlds and places he creates and stay there for a long, long time - this is something every reader should do when having one of his stories in his/her hands! Absolutely beautiful, both the story and the illustrations!
February 25, 2023
Un album jeunesse absolument magnifique au niveau de l'illustration et du récit qui tourne autour d'une relation entre une fille et son père, un débordement d'imagination et de peinture qui fait presque un commentaire méta-narratif sur le pouvoir de l'illustration dans les livres jeunesses et un père qui apprend à regarder d'une autre manière, sous un autre angle, les dessins qui l'entoure. J'ai versé une larme en lisant le récit jusqu'à la fin.
September 29, 2025
The book encapsulates the meaning of family and the need children have for attention, physical love and encouragement from family and friends. The book highlights this with gorgeous illustrations that encourage children to explore the meaning behind the photos.
July 12, 2022
A lovely book showing the distress that moving house can have, but the many ways to make the new house a home.
August 8, 2022
Oh! What a simply marvelous book! The art was so stunning, and the story made me tear-up. Very sweet and lovely.
Read
September 12, 2022Stunning illustrations, so warm they radiate off the page. Very few words but the panels are filled with details that tell so much and enrich each page.
November 15, 2022
A gloriously beautiful book. The illustrations are the star here (pun not intended), in a tale about what really makes a home and the importance of listening to each other.
January 6, 2024
Very adorable :)
read it for my cousin.
read it for my cousin.
September 3, 2024
That was so adorable
September 29, 2025
I like the illustrations throughout the book and how they tell so much more of the story as you look into them.
September 29, 2025
It was an enjoyable read and the illustration helped tell the story and get you thinking more.
September 29, 2025
It was an imaginative story, which was cleverly displayed through creative and vibrant images which had further meaning behind it, such as emotions and contrast.
September 29, 2025
I thought this was a good book that showed the family dynamic through illustration and its illustrations were very pretty
January 15, 2024
Ilustrações muito bonitas.
December 31, 2022
Another gem from Joel Todd Stanton - I love his beautiful illustrations and how much of the story is told in the wonderful details (such as all the lovely scenes in each floor of the building at the end).
March 1, 2022
Moving houses and leaving everything you know behind is a hard step to take.
It isn't easy for anybody but, specially kids, have a difficult time going through it.
The Comet shows us that no matter where you go, home is always where your loved ones are. That it is easy to create new memories and that as long as you are surrounded by your family, nothing else matters.
Great message and really stunning illustrations. I thought the art work was superb!
It isn't easy for anybody but, specially kids, have a difficult time going through it.
The Comet shows us that no matter where you go, home is always where your loved ones are. That it is easy to create new memories and that as long as you are surrounded by your family, nothing else matters.
Great message and really stunning illustrations. I thought the art work was superb!
March 5, 2022
Joe is one of my favourite Author/illustrators and he has delivered again with a beautifully poignant story of managing change and seeing the bright side .
Words and images combine to make this delicate story come alive and as with all Joe’s stories once you read it you can do so again exploring every minute detail of the pictures looking for surprises and tiny touches that bring even more to a retelling.
Glorious!
Words and images combine to make this delicate story come alive and as with all Joe’s stories once you read it you can do so again exploring every minute detail of the pictures looking for surprises and tiny touches that bring even more to a retelling.
Glorious!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews