The Stars Just Up the Street

Mabel is fascinated by the stars and by her grandfather’s stories about his life growing up on the prairie, where he could see thousands of them. Disappointed by the mere thirty-seven stars she can see from the tree in her yard, Mabel and Grandpa embark on a quest to find more stars, first by going to the end of the street, then by seeking their neighbors’ help in making the sky darker by turning out their lights. Their quest becomes a full-blown community effort as various townspeople join in Mabel and Grandpa’s attempts to persuade the mayor to turn off the streetlights, culminating in a new tradition of stargazing each month at the new moon. The tender and supportive relationship between grandfather and granddaughter speaks to the power of multi-generational relationships in creating meaning and purpose for both. Mabel’s sincerity and authenticity, combined with her persistence and problem-solving, give young readers an example of positive community activism at their level and highlights the impact that a single person can have in galvanizing a larger group. Davenier’s fluid and colorful ink illustrations are light-hearted and wonderfully portray Mabel’s young optimism and vigor, as well as the marvels of the sky.