I started reading this on Edelweiss online. It was a medium sized sample, but I think I got enough to know that I enjoyed this book and when it comes out, I want to see more of Up Where the Stars Are (Andrew’s Adventures in Nature).
The story is centered around Andrew, a young man with special needs. His situation is not the focus, or what he cannot do, but what he can do. The part of the story I was able to read was about the constellations, the story his parents tell him and then how his imagination takes him flying through the stars. The book so far is a 2.5, but the illustrations are a good 3, therefore I think Ryan Jacobson will have an overall score of a solid three after my completion in mid-April 2023.
Michelle Hazelwood Hyde not only has a cool name, but they have some cool illustrations. They are cartoon-like but not cartoonish. They are realistic and form the characters well. The colors and details fit what is needed and are both sweet and comfortable while also being bold and strong. They are nice and for the younger reader, you can make your own story to fit them.
There will be information on the special needs of Andrew, and I am hoping for a lot of fun adventures. This is a good book to help kids who might be neurologically different, siblings of special needs children or for the classroom setting as well. It does lend itself to an at least five and up age range but could most likely adapt to slightly younger as well.