Samuel Shootingstar

Samuel Shootingstar encounters life forms he’s never met and places he’s never been while exploring the galaxy with new friend Luna Bunny in Sanford’s heartwarming ode to connection, healing, loss, and the meaning of home. Samuel, a starfish from the Brine Nebula who wears an astronaut suit and a jet pack, and large-eyed Luna, a purple bean-shaped creature called a bunnibee, have been traveling together since Samuel rescued Luna from the dastardly chef-pirates who destroyed her home. Vowing to help her find a new place to live, Samuel visits Council City to request an escort through the stars. Accompanied by a gelatinous steed, who “has many teeth and a surly attitude,” they begin their trek, but are soon derailed by a meteor storm, which frightens their escort and sends Samuel and Luna hurtling adrift through space before crash-landing on a planet inhabited by giant, slimy worms. While spare text sometimes lacks emotional punch, Sanford’s variously textured art, rendered in appropriately galactic blues and purples as well as luminous greens and yellows, provide narrative depth. This vibrantly illustrated space adventure, filled with curious creatures and imaginative locales, is a touching reminder that home is anywhere one’s loved ones reside. A note detailing the author’s inspiration concludes. Ages 7–up. (Self-published)