The best children’s books are simple and beautiful and today I’m reviewing one that fulfills both those criteria with ease, Oliver Jeffers How to catch a star, in honour of its 10th anniversary. I’ve also got a copy to give away along with some other related goodies at the end so if you’re lucky you can experience it for yourself.
Oliver Jeffers – How to Catch a Star
Once there was a boy and the boy loved stars very much
Oliver Jeffers How to Catch a Star was inspired by an evening in a fish market counting star fish as the real stars came out. It led to a series of drawings of someone attempting different approaches to catch a star which were eventually combined to produce this lovely picture book aimed at kids around 3 to 7 years old.
The story follows a boy who loves stars so much he wants to catch one to keep and be his friend. Unsurprisingly this turns out to be a bit harder than he expected but he keeps trying until eventually he manages it, albeit in a rather unexpected way. It’s a lovely simple narrative that even very young kids will understand and also uses vocabulary that will make it suitable for early readers.
The illustrations are charming using pencil drawings filled with deep water colours which beautifully imply the passing of time through the day with their tone and the use of shadows.
The large, hard back edition celebrating the 10th anniversary of its publication would make a fabulous gift that families will want to keep and come back to again and again.
Oliver Jeffers books always have such a sense of fun and having seen this little video of him talking about his work you can see why.
If you’d like to get your kids more involved in the story, Harper Collins have also produced a set of activity sheets including colouring pictures, a maze, dot to dot etc as well as directions for making your own mobile. Just click the link to download:
Oliver Jeffers How to catch a star activity sheets
Oliver Jeffers – How to Catch a Star Giveaway
I have a super How to Catch a Star prize to give away. As well as a beautiful hard back 10th anniversary edition of the book one lucky winner will also get:
- A set of activity sheets
- A set of glow in the dark stars
- A How to Catch a Star poster
- A special How to Catch a Star USB stick loaded with copies of the activity sheets so you can print more and the Meet Oliver Jeffers video
If you’d like to be in with a chance of winning just leave me a comment naming another Oliver Jeffers book (hint: have a look over here
he illustrated The Day the Crayons Quit
Up and Down
I LOVE Oliver Jeffers – he is my favourite author by a country mile. I’d be hard pushed to pick a favourite book as they are all fantastic but I do particularly enjoy ‘Stuck’. I love the simplicity of the story, the illustrations and the repetition is great for engaging young children. Your prize is amazing so I have my fingers, legs and everything else very tightly crossed!!
The Incredible Book Eating Boy
Incredible Book Eating Boy
Lost and found!
The Incredible Book Eating Boy
Lost and Found
This moose belongs to me
Lost and FOund – we love it! Loved the little short film too
Lost and Found
Lost and Found
Lost and Found
lost and found
Lost and Found
This Moose Belongs to Me
Stuck
Lost and Found
This moose belongs to me
Stuck
The Great Paper Caper!
The Incredible Book Eating Boy
This Moose Belongs to me
The heart and the bottle <3
This Moose Belongs Belongs to Me
Don’t we want a Marcel?
The Day The Crayons Quit
Lost and found
Up and Down. I love Jeffers! Such gorgeous books
Incredible Book Eating Boy
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Lost and Found
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The way back home
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Lost and Found
Lost and Found ( a regular one from the library for us)
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The Incredible Book Eating Boy
Lost and Found
Lost and Found
Lost and found
Lost and Found
Lost and found x
This Moose Belongs Belongs to Me
Lost and Found
lost and found
lost and found
The Incredible Book Eating Boy
lost and found
LOST AND FOUND
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Lost and Found
Lost and found
Lost and found
lost and found
Lost and found 🙂
Stuck
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The Incredible Book Eating Boy
Lost and found
Lost & Found
Lost & Found
Lost and Found
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The Incredible Book Eating Boy
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Lost and Found.
The Hueys in the New Sweater
The Way Back Home
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Lost and Found
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The day the crayons quit
This Moose Belongs to Me
lost and found
Lost and Found
Lost and Found
This moose belongs to me
Up and Down
Lost and found
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The Day The Crayons Quit
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THIS MOOSE BELONGS TO ME
Lost and found x
The day the crayons quit
Up and Down
Lost and found
Lost and found
<>
Lost and found
Lost and found
The way back home
The Day The Crayons Quit
Lost and found
Lost and Found
The Incredible Book Eating Boy
Lost and Found
Lost and found 🙂
Lost and Found
Lost and found.
Lost and Found
Incredible Book Eating Boy
lost and found
Lost and Found 🙂 x
The Incredible Book Eating Boy
Lost and Found
Lost and Found
The Day the Crayons Quit
Lost And Found
Lost and Found
The Incredible Book Eating Boy
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up and down
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Lost and Found
Lost and Found
Lost and Found
the way back home
this moose belongs to me
Lost and Found is my fave
Lost and Found! The penguin is the cutest 🙂
the way back home x
lost and found
Lost And Found
The Incredible Book Eating Boy
The Incredible Book Eating Boy
This moose belongs to me
Lost and found
Lost and Found
Lost and Found
Lost and found
The Moose Belongs To Me
Lost and found
LOST AND FOUND 🙂
The Moose Belongs To Me
The way back home 🙂 x
Up and Down