Official Review: The Dim Star by George F. Kacenga
Posted: 31 Jan 2018, 16:42
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Dim Star" by George F. Kacenga.]
3 out of 4 stars
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Have you ever wished upon a star? Did it make you feel better? In the children’s book, The Dim Star by George F. Kacenga, the reader is taken up into space, where stars and constellations exist, to a little star who needs some help.
Stars of many shapes and sizes coexist within the solar system. Some are brighter than others, some are part of a constellation, some are tall, and some are short. Following the Dim Star, the reader is taken on his journey of finding his self-worth that perhaps can be found somewhere other than his home.
This children’s book was a light and easy-to-follow read. The Dim Star’s sadness was clearly shown and it would be easy for children to understand why. The other character, a young boy, also showed signs of unhappiness. However, his reason for sadness was never fully explained. This is the part that was a bit unsettling. Teaching children to wish upon a star to solve their problems is something that isn’t realistic, and I fear may encourage children to not talk to their parents and/or guardians when there is an issue or when they are upset.
I found the illustrations inviting, though there were some blurriness in the background of the space scenes. The blurriness was a bit distracting, but I don’t feel children would notice one way or the other. One of my favorite aspects of the illustrations, though, was the varying emotions the stars and the young boy demonstrated. It brought a sense of realism to an otherwise fictional tale.
Rhyming is the main writing style here. For most of the book, the pattern is AABB rhyming, which provides a great rhythm for children while reading. Unfortunately, there were a few times when words that were meant to rhyme didn’t. For instance, on page seven, the words “shines” and “kinds” don’t rhyme, and on page nine, “shine” and “combined” don’t either. In addition, there was a bit of inconsistency with the grammar. There was a comma missing and an inconsistent use of upper case and lower case letters that began each line. However, it totaled to about a handful, so it most likely would not affect the children's enjoyment of this read.
With the exception of potentially teaching children that wishing upon a star will help them feel better when they feel lonely and the grammar issues present here, I found this to be an enjoyable and sweet read. I truly believe preschool-aged children will enjoy The Dim Star very much as a sweet bedtime story. Therefore, I give this read a 3 out of 4 stars.
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The Dim Star
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3 out of 4 stars
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Have you ever wished upon a star? Did it make you feel better? In the children’s book, The Dim Star by George F. Kacenga, the reader is taken up into space, where stars and constellations exist, to a little star who needs some help.
Stars of many shapes and sizes coexist within the solar system. Some are brighter than others, some are part of a constellation, some are tall, and some are short. Following the Dim Star, the reader is taken on his journey of finding his self-worth that perhaps can be found somewhere other than his home.
This children’s book was a light and easy-to-follow read. The Dim Star’s sadness was clearly shown and it would be easy for children to understand why. The other character, a young boy, also showed signs of unhappiness. However, his reason for sadness was never fully explained. This is the part that was a bit unsettling. Teaching children to wish upon a star to solve their problems is something that isn’t realistic, and I fear may encourage children to not talk to their parents and/or guardians when there is an issue or when they are upset.
I found the illustrations inviting, though there were some blurriness in the background of the space scenes. The blurriness was a bit distracting, but I don’t feel children would notice one way or the other. One of my favorite aspects of the illustrations, though, was the varying emotions the stars and the young boy demonstrated. It brought a sense of realism to an otherwise fictional tale.
Rhyming is the main writing style here. For most of the book, the pattern is AABB rhyming, which provides a great rhythm for children while reading. Unfortunately, there were a few times when words that were meant to rhyme didn’t. For instance, on page seven, the words “shines” and “kinds” don’t rhyme, and on page nine, “shine” and “combined” don’t either. In addition, there was a bit of inconsistency with the grammar. There was a comma missing and an inconsistent use of upper case and lower case letters that began each line. However, it totaled to about a handful, so it most likely would not affect the children's enjoyment of this read.
With the exception of potentially teaching children that wishing upon a star will help them feel better when they feel lonely and the grammar issues present here, I found this to be an enjoyable and sweet read. I truly believe preschool-aged children will enjoy The Dim Star very much as a sweet bedtime story. Therefore, I give this read a 3 out of 4 stars.
******
The Dim Star
View: on Bookshelves
Like hsimone's review? Post a comment saying so!
The message of the book does seem a little... impractical? Sounds like it'd be easy for a kid to get the wrong idea. :/