Twinkle, twinkle, little star by Jane Taylor

Ill. by Mandy Foot. Lothian Children's Books, 2016. ISBN 9780734416872
(Ages: 0-3) Australian animals. Nocturnal animals. Stars. This is a take on a traditional rhyme, of which Mandy Foot has done a few (This little roo went to market, The wheels on the bus). This one is an extended version of Twinkle twinkle with a goodnight story vibe and an Australian touch. It starts with the known rhyme and then continues almost as a love poem written to a star, praising it for lighting the way for nocturnal Australian animals. Accordingly, the setting is the Australian outback and features a cast of Australian animals that are active at night (fireflies, mice, gliders, owls, foxes, etc.).
The illustrations are sparse, which effectively highlights the wide blue sky and the abundance of stars, sometimes contrasted with the red, glowing earth. There is a story running through the rhyme (the baby possum is guided back to his nest by the light of the star) but it gets a bit lost and isn't immediately obvious. Unfortunately, in some parts the rhyme seems forced and doesn't flow well ('When the blazing sun is gone, When he nothing shines upon').
Nicole Nelson