Children will love Bunny and Dog, neighbors who never spoke. They secretly noticed the other needed a friend and wondered who that friend could be. Then came the night of the shooting star...
A cute story with darling pictures and a message of taking a chance on friendship shines bright! ( )

Calm, serene ... who can be the other's friend? ( )

Although they were next-door neighbors, Bunny and Dog never spoke to one another, pursuing their separate interests and activities in a close proximity that never seemed to lead to any sort of exchange or friendship. They noticed one another, of course, and even thought from time to time that the other needed a friend, but it wasn't until the night of the shooting star that they felt impelled to actually reach out...

On the Night of the Shooting Star is a lovely picture-book, one which pairs a gentle, contemplative story about social isolation, and how two lonely souls eventually found one another, with sweet illustrations that capture the mystery of night-time vistas and the joy of daytime ones. I appreciated author Amy Hest's delicate storytelling touch here, as she depicts her two characters as solitary individuals, rather than unfriendly ones, and demonstrates how sometimes it takes something extraordinary - like a shooting star - to bring such people (or animals) together. I also appreciated illustrator Jenni Desmond's artwork, with its beautifully varied palette, and charming animal figures. Recommended to anyone looking for engaging new children's stories about finding friendship. ( )