Ladder to the Stars

A lyrically told and beautifully illustrated story about the passage of time.

"It is never too late," said the star. "Why, one hundred years are nothing and no time. To a star, they are light and quick like seeds in the wind. You are still a little girl to us and we are waiting for you. Please come."

On her seventh birthday, a little girl sees a dancing star and makes a wish. Many years later, at the end of her long and happy life, the old woman climbs a very special ladder to the stars and her wish comes true.

This gentle parable addresses the beauty and the inevitability of the cycle of life. Themes of growth, death, and the passage of time are treated in a sensitive manner that opens the door to discussion by families of all faiths and beliefs.

Simon Puttock was born in New Zealand, and traveled all over the world as a child. He now lives in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, where he runs the children's department of Waterstone's Books. He has written several other books for young readers.

Alison Jay studied illustration at The London College of Printing. She lives in West London, England, and is the illustrator of a number of books for children.