Member Reviews
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
Such an excellent book. My kids and I loved this... we recently checked it out from the library so we could see a hard copy in our hands. Beautiful illustrations - well done!
‘Shine’ with story and art by Bruno Valasse is a picture book about the power of embracing one's unique qualities.
The story follows a small moth who fears the dark. The moth would rather stay at home, warm and cozy. The only problem is that the moth loves the night sky and the twinkling stars. Can the moth overcome it's fear of the dark and find new wonders while flying around the night sky?
Told with beautiful illustrations, this is a really nice story about the night sky and the creatures who live there. I enjoyed this story. Especially the unusual illustrations.
A simple effective story about a moth finding the light in the dark, being brave and appreciating the nighttime world. Very cute with unique illustrations. Definitely worth a look and a read, would make a wonderful bedtime story for anyone but maybe particularly someone needing a little extra courage to face the dark.
This was ABSOLUTELY precious. If I could give it 10 stars, I would. This was the hug my soul needed.
A glowing picture book for children overcoming fear, especially of the dark. Youngsters find that bonding together with others and sharing feelings helps, becoming a light for others. The illustrations are created from drawings, printed textures and a computer. This inspiring story would fit perfectly in an integrated science/literature/art lesson for preschool through early elementary grades.
This was a delightful book. The illustrations are vibrant even with a limited color palette. The moth in this story is afraid of the dark - the story itself is exciting, but the illustrations really kick it up a notch.
I really like the bold and creative art that illustrates this story of a little moth who is afraid of the dark. The art reminds me of an older book and focuses on a palette of moss green, teal blue, golden yellow, and red-orange. One night he decides to go on an adventure outside in the night to be brave and challenge his fears. A great bedtime book!
I read this to my class and they loved it. The illustrations captured them right away. Also, my students were able to connect wit hteh character because A lot of them were scared at night too. It taught a wonderful lesson on how to always be yourself. It also gave students the reassurance htey needed that it is okay to be scared of things, but we can always find ways to become brave!
A little moth is enchanted by the stars, but is also afraid of the dark. Friends lend encouragement, and in turn, the moth finds that being brave is easier than he thought. The author's illustrations, set against a dark background, are very unusual and intriguing.
What a lovely little picture book!
It's not a glossy, clean book. It isn't meant to be. There are still a few untidy pencil scratches, and most of the backgrounds have brown tones instead of bright paper-white.
It feels like being outside.
Dirt. Grass. Summer nights. Freedom--and a little danger.
If you've got an audience that isn't quite the right age yet for Avi's The End of the Beginning (an incredibly charming story about a little adventuresome snail) or Ursula Vernon's enchanting and bizarre Nurk, then the lovely, warm lights of Shine and its summer fireflies might be just the thing.
This may be an issue of picture books on e-readers in general, but it's a little difficult to read on a Kindle. Valasse's sweeping, two-page illustrations don't get quite the same effect. Otherwise, no complaints!
Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC and for introducing me to this charming little book!
If every children’s book has a message, you won’t find one more on the nose than in Shine by Bruno Valasse. Or maybe I should say “on the wing”? In this sweet short story, a moth wants to explore the dark but is afraid of what it might encounter. It takes courage and self-belief for the moth to shine in a dark world.
Spelling-binding illustrations captivate readers’ attention, bringing them into this whimsical nighttime world of insects. Shine is great validation for kids who are growing healthy fears about the world around them, and for just about anyone who remembers the days of fighting monsters at bedtime.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada, Tundra Books, and NetGalley for providing this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
I love this book as an introduction to camouflage for little ones. The illustrations were adorable. I liked the idea of the main character being a night insect afraid of the dark. Unique perspective that I hadn't seen yet. My students are going to love this book.
Shine is an adorable book about a moth who is afraid of the dark. The little moth loves the stars. Out in the darkness there are other creatures to make friends with. The moth realizes there is more waiting in the dark than just friends and is scared. But, opening wings wide the moth can shine! (I love this!)
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This is my own unsolicited opinion.
What an excellent book to read with a child and have discussions about the beauty of darkness, how one can shine in a scary or dark place, etc. Friends can help one another is another lesson.
My e-copy didn't enable me to really see the art of the book, but what I can see I can imagine that holding a print copy would be very special. The artwork shows stars, creatures' eyes and small things in the dark until, wow, the shine shows. I want to get a copy for my grandchildren.
"Shine" was a beautiful and inspiring picture book! I love the idea of a little moth embracing its authentic self and finding courage in the night. It's so important to be true to ourselves and let our light shine, even in the darkness. I'm sure readers will be captivated by the lyrical storytelling and the stunning illustrations. 🌟🦋📖
Shine is a cute story about a moth and its adventures outside. I love the sense of friendship between insects. The illustrations were cute and a darker color scheme, which I thought represented nighttime well.
I received an ARC from Penguin Random House Canada | Tundra Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A beautiful moth is afraid of the dark, but the beautiful moth ALSO loves stars [and the friends he has when it is dark], so the beautiful moth faces it's fears and goes and plays with it's friends in the dark and learns how to both face it's fears AND help it's lovely, sparkling friends.
The author/illustrator of this book does an excellent job at communicating those early fears many of us have [of the dark, of those things we cannot see etc] and creating a story that shows children how to both NOT be afraid and how to work with others to help everyone around them. It is brilliantly done and I loved this so much. It was so gorgeously illustrated and those illustrations truly add to the overall feel of the story.
Just spectacular! I highly recommend this book!
Thank you to NetGalley, Bruno Valasse, and Penguin Random House Canada/Tundra Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.
A picture book with clever illustrations and a striking palette, it follows a moth who is afraid of the dark but entranced by the stars. He ventures into the night and makes friends, but they all fall victim to frogs waiting in the dark. The team of insects moves on to find a lighthouse and enjoy the night. The end is punctuated with the moth being, “a light in the darkness,” and he and his friends are safe in their nighttime trek.
I like this book; the artwork is alluring, but I can’t help but feel that once you get into the story, it is too short and it feels like it leaves out a few details. Still, It is a dually thematic, encouraging readers to both overcome their fears and to be themselves. The artwork is super fun and the kids will enjoy it for storytime, the text heartening the readers to “shine” in the darkness.
Shine is a very sweet, but very short, children's picture book about a moth who is afraid of the dark, but finds his courage to help others.
My only critique is that I wish there were a few more pages of illustration and rhyme. It felt incredibly short, and I would have loved to see more pages of our little moth helping his nighttime friends, flying among the stars, or hiding in plain sight. The art is lovely, and the rhymes are sweet and simple. Overall, very well done.
I received an electronic ARC from Penguin Random House Canada through NetGalley.
Sweet story of a moth who finds their courage to venture out in the dark. Readers meet this small moth as they share their story of being happy inside in the light. But, they also like the moon and the stars so they find friends who are scared too and venture out together. All is well until they remember predators are always there. Moth finds his boldness, spreads his wings and flies/shines to save his friends. The artwork is detailed and readers will love looking for the various animals included. The story allows readers to see how shy and nervous the main character is until they tap inner strength to save others.