Review Detail

In EYES THAT SPEAK TO THE STARS, a little boy his upset when his friend draws his eyes as lines rather than open like everyone else's. When he questions his dad about this, he expresses how hurt he is by being drawn differently from the others. His dad comes back with an inspirational message about how his eyes look to the stars and can foresee a wonderous future. Just like his father and grandfather. They see through the darkness and guide them to a brilliant future.

The illustrations are stunning and luminous which make them appear as bright as a star. I love the inclusion of the Japanese culture and how it even goes back to the boy's ancestors. There are terms throughout the story too that are common to Japanese culture. Overall, the message is deeper than the boy's eyes appearing like stars, like I anticipated. Instead, it teaches about the importance of keeping your head held high and looking towards the future. It's also about holding on to your culture and staying true to who you are.


Final Verdict: This is a book that should certainly be in school libraries everywhere. It's also perfect for people of different nationalities to see how stereotypes, no matter how innocent they can be, can hurt someone's feelings. EYES THAT SPEAK TO THE STARS opens up the opportunity for parents to teach children about the differences between cultures, but how we're all human and hurt the same way.