Guest Author - Taisha Turner
Stella is a Star! is by Bernadette Peters. The picture book’s paintings are by Liz Murphy. An audio CD comes with the children’s book. It contains Bernadette Peters’s reading and a song. Stella is a Star is 9 x 11.5 inches with thirty-two pages. Kids between four and eight-years-old are the target age group.
Stella pretends she is a Princess Pig. However, she is really a puppy. Believing that no one likes her as a dog, she creates a new persona. The little puppy decides to take dance lessons with other little pigs. Now, Stella has trouble learning the dance routine. Nevertheless, Madam encourages Stella to practice and she does so. The night of the recital arrives. Rose, the lead dancer twists her ankle. Will Princess Pig wow the audience?
Many adults are familiar with the old film Forty-Second Street and the countless films and books with the same plot. The chorus line girl takes the injured star’s role and wows the audience. Children do not know the story. Bernadette Peters’s retelling is inspirational for young people and leaves them feeling good.
Stella the Princess Pig! inspires kids to believe in themselves. It fosters self-esteem and to love who they are. Also, the picture book tells children not to give up. Practice creates improvement. This is true not only with dancing, but whatever they try. Parents and educators can take a lesson from Madam, the dance teacher. Adults must encourage children to practice and test themselves. Stella the Princess Pig! is great for the entire family or classroom.
Bernadette Peters sings Stella’s song. Therefore, Ms. Peters lovely voice is a bonus for listeners. I listened to the audio CD several times just to hear her beautiful voice. I’m sure she knows practice and self-belief goes a long way. Her longevity in the entertainment business is proof.
Children need to have a regular routine. A set bedtime and place to sleep are part of the daily routine. Read a bedtime story as part of the nightly ritual. Read quiet, soothing books to children in their warm, comfortable bed. This allows a child to associate reading with comfort and security. The association will continue a lifetime.
Images/Pictures Stella is a Star!
Bernadette Peters writes Broadway Barks with CD, too!
"I cannot live without books." - Thomas Jefferson
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Note: Stella is a Star! by Bernadette Peters complimentary review copy is from Media Masters Publicity.
