6 March 2011 STAR OF THE SEA: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A STARFISH by Janet Halfmann and Joan Paley, ill., Christy Ottavian/Henry Holt, May 2011, 32p., ISBN: 978-0-8050-9073-4

"Now I know you're not the only starfish in the sea,

If I never hear your name again it's all the same to me."

-- Paul Simon and Bruce Woodley, "Red Rubber Ball"

"Finally, Sea Star reaches the mussel bed.  She hunches over a big mussel and grips its two shells with her strong feet.  The tug of war is on!  As she tries to pull open the shells, the mussel struggles to keep them closed. 

"But Sea Star won't get tired.  Her many feet work like a relay team, with some resting and some pulling.  "Soon the mussel's shells open just a crack.  That's enough!  Sea Star extends her stomach right out of her mouth -- and into the tiny crack.

"Slowly, her stomach turns the mussel's soft body to liquid, right inside the shells.  When Sea Star is done eating, she pulls her stomach back in.  Only the shells of the mussel are left.

That.

Is.

Disgusting.

How can you write about oozing stomachs inside of such a beautifully illustrated book about these pretty little sea creatures? 

No wonder I've never seen a picturebook before about starfish!

Seriously, I cannot believe that, having spent my life near the two coasts, I've lived this long knowing so little about sea stars.  But I cannot say that any more.  STAR OF THE SEA is full of information about these creatures, including several jam-packed pages of back matter.  Joan Paley's rich watercolor collages are absolutely stunning. 

A stellar read.

Richie Partington, MLIS
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