The Stuff of Stars is what I would call “a real WOW!” book. Marion Dane Bauer has created text that is poetic and traditional text simultaneously. Along with the illustrations of Ekua Holmes, Bauer’s text is extremely strong. A read-aloud time will be most joyous as you will be able to “James Earl Jones” it (i.e.: just have a booming good time saying the words). While The Stuff of Stars is about a scientific theory, there is a hint of spiritually as well. Both story and art create a beautiful way of showing the science of art and the art of science when dealing with The Big Bang theory.
Stealing part of Amazon’s description: Bauer’s book is an “unfurling of our universe” and a “celebrate the birth of every child.” Bauer and Holmes show “how we are all the stuff of stars.”
While Bauer’s text flows and draws pictures of what she is describing, it lends itself to be a companion to the art of Holmes. The illustrations are bold, rich, deep, abstract and a hit to the gut. The colors blend, melt, splatter and roll off the page. They are dark, with the right amount of light when and where needed. They reminded me of something we did in art class that had paint put into an oil and then you swirled it around to make organized patterns (if you know the correct term, please let me know). And I am not the only one who has enjoyed these gems. Holmes was awarded the 2019 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award as a Winner.