Stars Beneath Your Bed: The Surprising Story of Dust

From School Library Journal Starred Review. PreSchool-Grade 4–This elegant picture book introduces the concept of dust–what it is, how it travels, and how it stays with us through time. In language both poetic and informative ("That dusty film on your computer screen/might have muddied a dinosaur"), Sayre conveys a sense of wonder at the many small things–"a crumbling leaf, the eyelash of a seal, the scales of a snake"–that make up dust and how it unites people across space and time. An interesting afterword expands on a theme raised in the text–the effect of this substance on the color of sunrises and sunsets–and offers more background information. Jonas's borderless watercolor artwork has an impressionist quality that complements the spare text. This book is ideal for classroom use, and is both straightforward enough for preschoolers and fascinating enough to capture the interest of older elementary students.