A reluctant star welcomes Christ

My kids still occasionally request “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” at bedtime, so I thought of the soothing song of simple, distant wonder as I opened Holy Night and Little Star. This book’s Little Star, however, is not distant and her emotions are not simple; she’s a very relatable astronomical object. Mitali Perkins and Khoa Le’s radiantly illustrated and sincerely felt book depicts Little Star’s reluctant journey of welcoming Jesus upon his birth.

When the story starts, Little Star is comfortable on the sidelines of the sky, thinking to herself: “I hope nothing changes.” But it does, of course. She and her luminous companions hear amazing news: a “Holy Night” is coming, and “Maker” wants them to help. Other stars are eager to brightly guide the way, but Little Star holds back. She hides and trembles. Rising to the task sounds scary and hard. Her response resembles the hesitancy and doubt of Moses at the burning bush. Even so, the smiling Maker assures her that she, too, has a part to play.

After witnessing others illuminate the heavens alongside an angel choir, Little Star slowly and nervously makes her way to Bethlehem. There, finally, she gleams for the just-born child – “Maker, with lamb’s eyes. Seeing her. Knowing her.” The little Christ sparkles with loving, personal recognition as Little Star joyfully lingers in the sky above him, his eyes searching for and finding her unique light. The active role that she dreaded becomes the most wonderful gift.

In our fraught world, every person comes to the nativity story with their own experiences of worry, insecurity and fear. This gentle, enchanting book captures the stunning comfort of a Messiah who is not only “up above the world so high” but also fully with us – and inviting us to bring our full selves into his unfolding story.