A Home Under the Stars

Picture book, 40 pages. Little Bigfoot, 2021. Ages 4 - 7. PNBA Book Awards Shortlist 2023.

---

Change is Hard

A big change like moving can be quite difficult for our dearest little people. Little Guy and Noodle made such a move a year ago and it has been wonderful to see them - as well as MamaDad - gently settle into their new home and neighborhood.

In Musser's story Toby feels tiny and lost in the crowded city. When his Moms try to comfort him by adapting their bedtime routine, Toby is angry because the city lights hide the stars. Without the stars, he can't sleep. But one night Toby discovers a lion wandering in a mysterious jungle that has overgrown the city. As they travel through the city in search of the North Star they meet other lost animals, each helping Toby to name and process his feelings about moving to the city.

I love this story and read it twice - back-to-back - with Little Guy who wanted to cut our stars as soon as we finished!

---

Andy Chou Musser

Musser grew up in a mixed race family in Oregon where he was homeschooled in a small house filled with books and art supplies, and surrounded by a big garden.

He now freelances as a picture bookmaker and motion graphics designer. He has won illustration awards from the SCBWI and 3x3 magazine, and created animation for a diverse roster of clients including: ABC, Starbucks, T-Mobile, and Warner Brothers. When not in the studio, Andy can be found playing the ukulele, talking to his house plants, visiting the library, and rock climbing.

Musser's illustrations perfectly capture a child's big feelings about moving to a new home.

Five Resilience-Building Habits for Children
Give Your Feelings Room
Be Kind to Yourself & Others
Think & Breathe
Cultivate Joy
Transform the Story

---

Ideas for Making it Real

Our kiddos are going to have some very big feelings  - anger, anxiety, fear - when there are any significant changes in their lives and it's our job to help them with these emotions. Musser's book is a perfect for the job of sharing with our little ones that everyone can have a hard time adjusting to something new.

Ideas to help your child grow stronger resilience muscles by facing her fears & transforming the narrative:

• Ask questions, listen and be patient. Toby's anger surprises his Moms, but being able to say how he feels is essential to being able to adjust to his new home. Give your kiddos the same gift!
• Keep your former routines, but transform them to fit your new home. Toby's Moms know he loves seeing the stars at night and create a way to continue the nightly tradition. Doing something similar for your child helps her to write a new chapter in her own life story - one that is connected to the previous chapter!

---