Comet & Star

A beautiful picture book of cosmic dimensions about the tranquility and happiness that come from no longer feeling alone, by Korean singer-songwriter Lee Juck and award-winning illustrator Lee Jinhee

A long, long time ago, in a far, far corner of the universe, there lived a lonely little star. One day, a comet appears—is this finally the star’s chance to make a friend? Inspired by Halley’s Comet, this picture book written by Korean singer-songwriter Lee Juck and illustrated by acclaimed artist Lee JinHee is about the moments of connection—however brief or rare—that give us the joy and hope to shine bright across the vast universe.

“Lee Juck tells a sweet … story of celestial friendship that is rendered sublime by Lee Jinhee’s luminous illustrations. In the tale, a lonely little star hangs in an empty gray part of the universe. This unhappy character looks like a furry starfish with all but one of its limbs tucked in, so that it resembles a teardrop… With the coming of [a] brilliant object, the star and its gloomy atmosphere are suffused with radiant gold… When 76 years have passed, the comet— like Halley’s Comet—reappears... From then on, reflecting the emotional state of the star and the comet, gray is banished from the pages and everything exudes joy, brilliance, fun and possibility—which, when you think about it, isn’t such a bad representation of good friendship.” Wall Street Journal
STARRED REVIEW! ? “Magic always occurs when a book’s narration and illustrations are perfectly matched. But an even more special kind of magic happens when the art goes beyond the written word and weaves a quiet message of its own. Comet & Star is a deceptively simple, genuinely sweet story about friendship with an underlying profundity that will touch even the grumpiest readers’ hearts… Lee’s soft colored pencil art is full of movement, warmth and emotion; this is a humble little story that is easy to like. But Lee’s art tells a second story, too: As the comet and star’s friendship unfolds in the skies, their lives are also being carefully documented below through newspaper clippings, photographs and notebooks filled with drawings… After several rereadings of Comet & Star, a realization hit this reviewer like a comet. The star waits for its only friend to return every 76 years, but here on Earth, it has admirers it could never have imagined—in a sense, friends who observe and love from miles away. That’s the true message of Comet & Star: For every friend you see, there are countless others thinking of you. Whether you need a gift for an old friend you rarely see, or a bedtime story for a little one who loves to watch the night sky, Comet & Star is the perfect choice. Just like Halley’s Comet, books with this unique magic don’t stop by every day. Don’t miss it.” BookPage
This friendship story is out of this world... Translated from Korean, this is a lovely tribute to the power of patience, the wonders of our universe, and friendship triumphing over loneliness. The spare text complements the soft, detailed illustrations, rendered in a warm palette of blue, orange, and yellow to express both the dismay the star feels at the missed connection and the joy of forging a bond in this vast universe. A concluding note briefly cites Halley’s Comet and its multi-decade trajectory as inspiration for this beautifully told tale... Heartfelt evidence that true connections exist in the cosmos and beyond. Kirkus Reviews
“This charming picture book imagines an anthropomorphic identity for a star and a comet in the night sky. The text uses brief phrases to effectively describe what is occurring in the minds of these celestial bodies. Because of the brevity of the narrative, the book is accessible to young readers and provides a convenient foundation from which to explain entities, such as Halley’s Comet, that travel through the universe. Supporting the text are soft, detailed illustrations that offer readers myriad thoughts to consider as they read the story. Additionally, because there is not always a direct connection between the words and the images, readers can creatively interpret their meaning and intent. VERDICT: Unique and utterly accessible, this sweet friendship story is a delightful addition to library collections for young readers.” School Library Journal
“A cosmic fable about the rhythms and consolations of friendship... Korean musician Lee Juck and artist Lee Jinhee take up these deep and often heavy questions with great levity and loveliness in Comet & Star—the story of a little star whose cosmic loneliness is interrupted by a visit from humanity’s most beloved comet: Halley’s comet, which has inspired poems and auguries.“ -- Maria Popova The Marginalian
A timeless message about waiting for the right friend to come along… The eye catching drawings are definitely the highlight of this sweet and wistful book. Done in delicate strokes, they recall elaborate doodles that a dreamy and talented child might create when gifted with a shiny new box of soft-lead pencils… For youngsters who struggle to connect with peers, this hopeful tale empathizes with their loneliness and promises that there’s someone out there for everyone, if we are willing to wait and accept the friendships that are offered… Children working on building friendships will find this a comforting message with the gorgeous art and dreamy quietness of the narrative making it an appealing bedtime story. Youth Services Book Review

Lee Juck is a singer-songwriter who has released over 100 songs since his debut in 1995. He is the author of One Day, also published by Enchanted Lion, and Fingerprint Hunter, a collection of short stories. He has two children. Lee Jinhee is an artist who lives and works in Seoul. She has published several picture books, including One Morning,You and the World; and Alef. She received the 2008 CJ Picture Book Award in illustration for her first picture book and was selected for the 2020 Bologna Children’s Book Fair Illustrators Exhibition. Stine Su Yon An is a poet, literary translator, and performer based in New York City. She holds an MFA in literary arts from Brown University and a BA in literature from Harvard College. She is the recipient of fellowships and grants from the American Literary Translators Association, the Corporation of Yaddo, and the PEN/Heim Translation Fund.

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