A Star Shines Through

School Library Journal. Best Books Best Picture Books List (2024). Kirkus Reviews. Best Picture Books About Families List (2024) "Straightforward, heartfelt words and thin-lined, fully imagined drawings from Desnitskaya (. On the Edge of the World. ) give tender voice to one child's refugee experience. " -. Publishers Weekly. (STARRED REVIEW. ) "Encouraging empathy and understanding, this illuminating picture book offers a realistic account of finding oneself in a new place and shines a light on the healing power of hope. " -. Booklist. (STARRED REVIEW). "A beautiful tale of loss and adjustment; for those who have never had to leave home, perhaps a lesson in insight and empathy. Highly recommended. " -. School Library Journal. (STARRED REVIEW). "Beautifully crafted and warmly empathetic. " -. Kirkus Reviews. (STARRED REVIEW). A poignant story about a displaced family making a home in the aftermath of war. We used to live in a big city. In our apartment window was a star-shaped lamp, shining through the cold. I could recognize home from far away. But then the war began, and we left for another country. Everything is different here-the food, the language, even Mom and me. Today Mom bought us a package of scissors, glue, and cardboard. Can we make this place feel a little more like home. Narrated by a young refugee, A Star Shines Through is based on the experiences of the author-illustrator, who left Russia with her family after the start of the Ukraine War. With an evocative palette of blues and yellows, Anna Desnitskaya shows how making art can create a sense of hope, even amidst emigration and resettling. Spirituality & Practice. The Best Spiritual Books List (2024). Foreword Reviews. INDIES Book of the Year Award in Picture Books, Early Reader Finalist (2024). Cooperative Children's Book Center. CCBC Choices List - Picture Books (2025).