Amy Hest

On a late summer day in the 1940s, Julie and her little sister, Martha, find a baby on the steps of the library. Instead of taking the baby inside the library, Julie and Martha head in the opposite direction. They are spotted by Julie’s frenemy, Bruno, who follows them to the beach. As the story unfolds, each child reminisces about key events of the summer, from Julie and Martha’s arrival with their father and their dog, George, to Bruno’s undertaking of a solemn and secret errand for show more his soldier brother, Ben.

While I found some of the brief scenes enjoyable, the book as a whole didn’t work for me. The nonlinear narrative in multiple voices felt disjointed. Six-year-old Martha didn’t add much to the book, and eliminating her character would probably strengthen the story. Although the main drama surrounding the baby resolved at the end of the book, I can’t say that it had a happy ending. The absence of loved ones (Julie and Martha’s deceased mother, Bruno’s soldier mother), the girls’ imminent departure for the city after their summer at the beach, and the war in the background combined to give it a melancholy undercurrent. This book may appeal to some young readers, but my childhood self would not have been one of them.

This review is based on an advance reading copy provided by the publisher through LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program. show less

Although they were next-door neighbors, Bunny and Dog never spoke to one another, pursuing their separate interests and activities in a close proximity that never seemed to lead to any sort of exchange or friendship. They noticed one another, of course, and even thought from time to time that the other needed a friend, but it wasn't until the night of the shooting star that they felt impelled to actually reach out...

On the Night of the Shooting Star is a lovely picture-book, one which pairs show more a gentle, contemplative story about social isolation, and how two lonely souls eventually found one another, with sweet illustrations that capture the mystery of night-time vistas and the joy of daytime ones. I appreciated author Amy Hest's delicate storytelling touch here, as she depicts her two characters as solitary individuals, rather than unfriendly ones, and demonstrates how sometimes it takes something extraordinary - like a shooting star - to bring such people (or animals) together. I also appreciated illustrator Jenni Desmond's artwork, with its beautifully varied palette, and charming animal figures. Recommended to anyone looking for engaging new children's stories about finding friendship. show less

First sentence: I'm the one who found her. A real, live baby girl and I saw her first. I saw the basket. Right over there, on the steps of the new children's library. A tiny little baby! All by herself in that basket! She was so brave, though. She wasn't even crying. I just wanted to hold her awhile. I didn't mean to take the baby.

Premise/plot: This children's book is set during the Second World War. It opens on a summer day--August 31. Three children (Julie and Martha Sweet, and their show more neighbor, Bruno Ben-Eli) find a baby in a basket on the steps of the [new] children's library. Each chapter features narration by all three--Julie, Martha, Bruno. Each chapter reveals details fleshing out their story. Everything leads to the big day--August 31. As you might have guessed, this one is not a linear or chronological story. Readers learn about the characters, the story, the setting--slowly but surely.

My thoughts: I really loved this one! I did. There were a few [subtle] moments of sadness. But nothing overwhelming or heavy. Observant readers can read behind the lines as to how the characters might be feeling. It has a great premise--children finding an 'abandoned' baby on the steps to the public library. It has dimensional characters--I really loved getting to know all three protagonists. I loved the complex relationships. Readers learn relatively early on that Bruno and Julie have fallen out; they were friends once, but no more. I love how human all these characters are. I felt empathy for all three. show less

This sweet novel proves that sometimes children’s books are wasted on children. That’s not a curmudgeonly attack on kids; it’s just that there are children’s books in which only adults can pick up on the nuances. Amy Hest’s The Summer We Found the Baby is such a book.

It would be too easy to reveal too much. Just let me say that when headstrong 11-year-old Julie discovers a foundling in a basket at the public library she snatches it up and makes off with it, followed by her show more 6-year-old sister Martha and her nemesis, 12-year-old Bruno. Each of the children take turns advancing the plot. The book provides more surprises than I ever imagined; it’s one I’ll long remember.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review. show less