Book Overview
From the illustrator of the #1 smash hit The Day the Crayons Quit comes a story about wishing, persevering, and reaching for the stars. Once there was a boy, and that boy loved stars very much. So much so that he decided to catch one of his very own. But how? Waiting for them to grow tired from being up in the sky all night doesn't work. Climbing to the top of the tallest tree? No, not tall enough. The boy has a rocket ship . . . but it is made of paper and doesn't fly well at all. Finally, just when the boy is ready to give up, he learns that sometimes things aren't where, or what, we expect them to be. Oliver Jeffers offers a simple, childlike tale of reaching for the stars, and emerging with a friend.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0399242864
ISBN13:9780399242861
Release Date:June 2004
Publisher:Philomel Books
Length:32 Pages
Weight:1.17 lbs.
Dimensions:0.5" x 10.6" x 10.5"
Age Range:3 to 7 years
Grade Range:Preschool to Grade 2
Customer Reviews
5 ratings
My son's favorite book
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
My 3 year old son absolutely loves this book. He relates so much to what the boy goes through. Having a rocketship that doesn't work too well. Trying to find a seagull that will help fly him up. Finding a tall tree to climb up. He has the entire story memorized and when we read it, we really do read it together. The illustrations are very well done. The shadows move under the trees as the time changes from dawn to morning to lunch to afternoon to evening. The story is simple, but you can talk to your child about what they would do the same or differently on each page in trying to catch a star. Each page can be viewed from an adult perspective or a child's perspective. Does the boy just find a starfish? Or did the boy find the shooting star from three pages back?
Great book for 2-3 year olds
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
Bought this for my 3 year old son a year ago. He just loves it! He asks for me to read it to him over and over again at bedtime. I bought it again a few weeks ago to give to another little boy along with another copy for a charity organization for the holidays. I think it's a wonderful book!
How to Catch a Star
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
My 3.5 year old son and I thoroughly enjoy this book. I also read it to my preschool class and it was a big hit. I think any age group can relate to the emotions in the book. Very sweet
Little Stargazers will love it.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
My son just turned 5, and this book has gone into the top rotation over the last 3 or 4 months. He has also taken a great interest in space over the same period. He wants to travel to Mars, since I pointed out in the night sky recently. He's asking about other planets, that sort of thing. Anyway the illustrations are beautiful, Jeffers style can appeal to the young and old. The story plays upon a young child's wish to have a star of their very own, and the ways a young child would dream of catching one. I think a precocious three year old, up to a 6 year old could enjoy this story. And just about every parent.
Magical book for young children
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
How to Catch a Star is a story of a young boy who tries again and again to catch a star, then sees a star reflected in the water and figures it fell from the sky. He tries to grab it, but it just slips through his fingers. On the walk along the beach to his home, he finds a starfish and thinks it's a star from the sky. The last picture is of the boy sitting with his starfish and reading to it. Even though the story has been told before (think Pooh), it's always magical, and the illustrations are simple, yet mesmerizing. This is a wonderful bedtime book and would also make a great read-aloud in a classroom, where it could be used in a beginning astronomy unit.
How to Catch a Star Mentions in Our Blog
Recently Released Books to Read in the Dark Wintry Nights
Published by Bianca Smith • November 27, 2017
New books from Philip Pullman, Andy Weir and more.
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
