Book Review of The Star Who Lost Her Shine
Sponsored* | All opinions are our own
The Children’s Book Review
The Star Who Lost Her Shine
Written by Alex Huey Evans
Illustrated by Matilde Sannito
Ages: 4-6 | 32 Pages
Publisher: GWG Press (2026) | ISBN: 978-1-961597-30-3
What to Expect: Unique talents, competition, confidence, self-worth, outer space.
In this picture book, readers will build social-emotional skills as they explore feelings about winning, losing, self-worth, and confidence.
Star has a unique talent—she can run really REALLY fast! Star enjoys the way all her friends admire her speed, and she enjoys winning medals in race after race—but mostly, she just enjoys going as fast as she can go. Then, one day, there’s a new star in the race—Astro is even faster than Star, and wins first place. Star is devastated—what is she worth if she can’t be the fastest? She tries being good at other things, like cooking, gardening, or singing, but they just don’t fill her with the same joy. Depressed and disappointed, she bumps into Astro—and to her immense surprise, Astro is feeling just as sad. She’s lost a race to Meteor, and now she’s not the fastest star either. Together, Astro and Star realize something important: they may not win every race they run, but they can still have fun trying!
Star’s confidence and later disappointment will feel instantly relatable to any child who has ever had to step down from being the best at something, and readers are sure to sympathize with her frustration and self-doubt. The space-themed illustrations keep the learning fun, using bright colors and cute cartoon faces to bring planets, comets, stars, and meteors to life with cheerful, relatable personalities, while the rhyming text changes rhythm to match the emotions they develop throughout the story.
Ideal for readers who struggle with competitive culture, The Star Who Lost Her Shine is a story that celebrates the joy of doing things you love for no reward other than the doing.
Buy the Book
About the Author
Alex Huey Evans is a bestselling children’s book author and screenwriter. Her debut picture book, The Star Who Lost Her Shine, debuted in May 2026.
As a (former) perfectionist, Alex grew up measuring herself by wins and achievements rather than simply having fun. These days, she writes stories that celebrate the messy, joyful adventure of growing up and loving what you do—no matter the score.
When she’s not writing, Alex can usually be found on a tennis court, dancing, or lost in a good book. She’s a media and theatre investor and serves on the board of Reading Partners Los Angeles, supporting early childhood literacy. A graduate of Barnard College, Columbia University, she splits her time between Los Angeles and New York with her husband and daughter.
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This is a sponsored*, non-biased review of The Star Who Lost Her Shine. Learn more about getting a book review …
