In clear and simple prose that wastes no words, Aikin writes a heartwarming and imaginative story whose simple message has an air of mystery about it, linking humanity with the far reaches of existence to suggest the boundless depths within every individual. Young readers, though, may need some guidance in contemplating the detail in each picture and broader themes about the vastness of the cosmos.
Miroshnichenko’s illustrations emphasize realistic eyes, first in somewhat unsettling closeups that command ample page space, the irises alive with swirls of cosmic light. These eyes are juxtaposed against images of people regarding them with awe or traveling to do the same. Later spreads depict diverse individuals connecting with each other through eye contact while swirls of stardust unfurl around them. Ringed planets, brilliant galaxies, and seams of stars are both overlay and underpin these scenes, encouraging young readers to find specialness in the vast universe and their own personal world.
Takeaway: Moving cosmic tale of the special qualities everyone possesses inside.
Comparable Titles: Stephen Hawking and Lucy Hawking's You and the Universe, Krystaelynne Sanders Diggs’s The Light Within.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: a-
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B-
