Sky Luck

The search for a lucky shooting star frustrates, then uplifts the child at the center of this tale oriented around appreciation. As peers squeal with excitement over glimpses of “meteors blazing across the dark desert sky,” one boy, portrayed with dark hair and pale skin, despairs that “he did not see any goodness gracious, great balls of fire.” Fortunately, an uncle helps reframe the protagonist’s sightings: “Only a satellite?” Using the titular phrase, the relative encourages the protagonist to observe the wonders that surround. Schlaikjer’s prose ranges from poetic to instructive, with yellow text bolding the intended takeaway: “the secret to feeling lucky? Pay attention to what’s already here.” Richly layering colors, Smith uses multimedia techniques for a dreamy soft-edged effect that echoes the sky’s luminosity. Characters are shown with varying abilities and skin tones. Back matter highlights natural wonders. Ages 3–7. (Sept.)