Like a Diamond in the Sky

December 1, 2021
The tale of a woman who captured the night sky. Straightforward, informative text with a touch of lyricism illuminates the life story of Jane Taylor, the English romantic poet. Beginning with her unique education as a child, the story relays how Taylor grew up to work in the publishing industry and earn her keep as an accomplished children's author while finding solace and inspiration in nature. The use of the derogatory term bluestocking to describe women of the era who "read too much, knew too much, and wrote too much" is addressed. Despite countless rejections from publishers and early-19th-century gender mores that barred her from publishing under her own name, Taylor blossomed through perseverance and dedication, ultimately penning the literary work for which she is best known--a poem called "The Star." Only one line of the poem appears within the text, so readers will have to connect the dots to understand that "The Star" and the well-known nursery rhyme "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" are one and the same; however, the full text of the nursery rhyme is included (along with the sheet music) in the backmatter. Enhanced with homespun gouache illustrations, Brown's luminous portrait of a literary life will inspire budding writers and encourage an appreciation of the beauty of the night sky. All characters are White. An appealing portrayal of a female poet, her creativity, and her time. (author's note, timeline, bibliography, biography, quotes and sources, sheet music) (Picture book/biography. 5-10)

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December 1, 2021

Gr 2-5-Taylor, whose poem "The Star" eventually became the lyrics to the ageless nursery song, was homeschooled with her sister in the English countryside, where the garden, the meadow, and the night sky were part of their classroom. It was a world in which she felt poetry all around her. She worked in the family engraving business, but her real ambition was to be a published writer, an unacceptable goal for a young woman in the early 19th century. Taylor persisted in submitting her poetry under pseudonyms until an editor took an interest. In time, she was able to write under her own name and to support herself by writing primarily for children. Richly colored gouache paintings evoke the beauty of the rural world with a suitably old-fashioned formality. While the text succeeds in capturing an idyllic childhood in a nurturing family, the adult quest for publication is slowed by descriptions of nature and relies too frequently on star imagery. VERDICT This attractive book with its extensive back matter will be of most interest in collections looking for solid picture book biographies of women.-Jan Aldrich Solow, formerly Fairfax Cty. Public Sch., VA

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 20, 2021
A narrative nonfiction style and interspersed quotes distinguish this biography of Jane Taylor (1783–1824), a Romantic-era poet who wrote the lines that would become “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” Brown’s lyrical lines trace Taylor’s
formative years in the English countryside, in which ample family support, a full education, and compassion helped Taylor and her sister Ann persevere, despite societal and industry obstacles, to become profitable authors. Gouache paintings of the all-white cast by Stadtlander have an intricate, vintage feel, reflecting Taylor’s interest in nature with sweeping landscapes. Copious back matter, which includes an author’s note and information on stars twinkling, fleshes out this edifying picture book biography. Ages 4–8.

January 1, 2022
Grades K-3 Brown details the life of children's poet Jane Taylor, author of ""The Star,"" widely known today as the lullaby ""Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star."" She explains that Jane and her sister Ann (also a poet) spent much of their childhood outdoors, guided by their father (an artist, minister, and amateur astronomer) and mother, who encouraged singing, reading, and poetry. Jane and Ann were known as ""bluestockings"" (women who valued education over social mores), persevering as they worked in the family business and continued to write, eventually achieving publication. Stadtlander's painterly gouache illustrations help bring rural eighteenth-century England to life for young readers. Her spreads favor blue hues, particularly for the skies, with earth tones and sunny yellows brightening the bucolic scenes. Snippets of Taylor's poetry are integrated into the illustrations, with the artwork geared to the quoted text. Appended with a fuller biography of Taylor, sources, a time line, music, and the complete poem itself, this is an engaging introduction to this Romantic-era poet.

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