PICTURE BOOK REVIEW : You and I are Stars and Night by Kate Hosford & Richard Jones

YOU AND I ARE STARS AND NIGHT

written by Kate Hosford, illustrated by Richard Jones

Beach Lane Books, 2026

ISBN: 978-1-6659-4038-2

Source : Blue Slip Media/publisher for review

Ages 4-8

All opinions expressed are solely my own.

Book cover, summary, author information all provide by Blue Slip Media.

ABOUT THE BOOK

This whimsical picture book celebrates the loving, playful, and imaginative relationship between caregiver and child through a shared dreamy journey before bedtime.

The wind is calling. Hear it sweep
through our village, fast asleep.
Will you sail away with me?
You and I are salt and sea…

And so, bathtime turns into a magical expedition. A grown-up and child embark on the voyage together, meeting mermaids in the sea, playing hide-and-seek in an enchanted forest, and soaring with the birds before sailing home to read and snuggle in for bedtime, which they know is just another adventure beginning.

Through it all, they cherish the most important thing in both dreamland and the real being together.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR

Kate Hosford is the author of seven picture books and two poetry collections, garnering accolades such as being named an American Library Association Notable Book, a Bank Street Best Book of the Year, a Junior Library Guild Selection, and a New York Times Best Illustrated Book. Her books have been published in eight languages. She is a graduate of Vermont College of Fine Arts where she earned her MFA in writing for children and young adults. Kate lives in Brooklyn with her family. To learn more, visit khosford.com.

Richard Jones has been living and working in Devon, England, for more than twenty years. He spent several years working in a busy children’s library, issuing and shelving other artists’ picture books before one day wondering if it wasn’t about time he had a proper go at creating one or two himself! Richard has written and illustrated many picture books, including Wondering Around by Meg Fleming, The Snow Lion by Jim Helmore, Quiet by Tom Percival, and You and I Are Stars and Night by Kate Hosford.

REVIEW

This lovely, dreamy-feeling picture book uses metaphors to show the close relationship between a caregiver and child as the child prepares for bed. The acrylic and watercolor painted illustrations provide a dream-like feel to them allowing readers to travel along with the adult and child into their imaginings. The story begins with the child in a bathtub and the woman holding out a toy boat and they head out to 'sea' as a 'boat and sail'. Throughout the book they match up as things that compliment each other in the real world such as a fork and spoon, hide and seek, slip and slide, before they return to the child's bedroom as 'egg and nest'. The book makes for a sweet, bedtime read between a mother and daughter, but should work for any child and caregiver. The imaginative nature of the book gives young listeners plenty of room to share their own ideas for journeys to take will the quiet gentleness of the book provides a gentle entry into sleep. A beautifully tender journey that reminds readers of the importance of not traveling the journey of life alone. Highly recommended.