In this post, we feature Rand Burkert, an educator, organic farmer, musician, and author. His previous, award-winning title, Mouse & Lion, was illustrated by his mother, renowned artist Nancy Ekholm Burkert, and was named an ALA Notable Children’s Book, among many other honors. You can hear him speak about his recent picture book, Star Stuff, illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Chris Raschka, and try his “invitation to imagine” activity. You’ll also find other resources to explore. Thanks for joining us, and let us know what you think in the comments below!
Star Stuff
- Written by Rand Burkert and illustrated by Chris Raschka
- Published by Michael di Capua Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
- Release date: October 3, 2023
This original, out-of-this-world fable introduces Giovanni, a farmer, and Lorenzo, a donkey. Together, they are Sky Repair Specialists, and it’s their job to fill the holes in the sky with stars. While working one night, Lorenzo gets a hoof stuck in a nebula, a swirling cloud of gas and dust. Giovanni tries to release his friend but soon realizes that they need more help. Luckily, when he calls out to the heavens, friendly stars come running: Orion the Hunter, Cancer the Crab, and Taurus the Bull. What will it take to rescue Lorenzo? Find out in this imaginative story of friendship, perseverance, and cosmic problem-solving, featuring Chris Raschka’s joyful and luminous illustrations.
Explore Star Stuff
Listen to Rand Burkert talking with TeachingBooks about creating Star Stuff. You can click the player below or experience the recording on TeachingBooks, where you can read along as you listen, and also translate the text to another language.
- Listen to author Rand Burkert pronounce his name.
- Listen to illustrator Chris Raschka pronounce his name.
- Explore TeachingBooks’ collection of activities and resources for Star Stuff.
Invitation to Imagine
TeachingBooks asks each author or illustrator on our Virtual Book Tour to share a writing prompt, a drawing exercise, or just an interesting question to spark curiosity and creativity. Enjoy the following activity contributed by Rand Burkert.
Imagination Activity with Rand Burkert
Try to stretch the story of Star Stuff and make it your own. What can you imagine? Who else, or what other animal, could get stuck in something? Act it out. How many of your friends are needed to help free the friend who is stuck? Make some costumes out of paper or anything else that you can find! Feel what it’s like to jump in line and help out.
Finish This Sentence . . . with Rand Burkert
As part of our Virtual Book Tour, TeachingBooks asks authors and illustrators to complete short sentence prompts. Enjoy Rand Burkert’s response.
“You may not know that I can…”
You may not know that I can “paint” in the soil with seeds. Many years ago, I apprenticed on farms in the Midwest (Wisconsin and Illinois), and then I became a farmer in Italy, in a region called Umbria.
I started saving seeds of all kinds. I found it was very easy. One year, I saved 20 different kinds of Oxheart tomato seeds and planted them, trying to find the best ones to grow where I lived. I grew many other varieties of tomato of all colors. My favorite was always “Cherokee Purple,” and also a small red cherry tomato called “Peacevine.” One summer, I grew different kinds of corn from the Hopi tribe, wonderful corn of amazing colors: blue-black, orange and white, yellow, lavender, and white.
Falling in love with seeds and plants, I started planting my gardens in circles, a little like galaxies. I liked the circle shape because it invited people in to stay and look at all the plants and enjoy themselves. Since I saved seeds, I had many and could spread them around very freely. Often, I would trace lines across the planting beds with a hoe, then let the seeds drop from my fingers in abundance. It felt like painting. When all the different plants sprung out of the ground, the circle filled with life, with bright green leaves and delicious food.
It was in Italy that I met the donkey Lorenzo while visiting a friend’s farm on the mountain called Subasio. The donkey would come close and nibble at things in my pocket. Sometimes Lorenzo would escape from that farm and go on night-journeys. Then we’d have to go look for him. I came to love the spirit of donkeys. That eventually inspired me to write this story.
“My favorite books as a young reader were…”
My favorite books as a young reader were the Narnia books by C.S. Lewis, especially The Magician’s Nephew. Even as an adult, it makes me cry for joy when the lion, Aslan, creates the world by roaring. When I was younger, picture books I loved were Inch by Inch, by Leo Lionni; Caps for Sale, by Esphyr Slobodkina; the Babar books; and The Scroobious Pip, illustrated by my own mom, Nancy Ekholm Burkert.
“I hope that my book may encourage kids to think about…”
I hope that my book may encourage kids to think about the unexpected places they might find help, or friends.
More Connections to Rand Burkert and Star Stuff
- Discover books like Star Stuff on TeachingBooks.
- HarperCollins’ page about Star Stuff, written by Rand Burkert and illustrated by Chris Raschka.
- Buy Star Stuff, written by Rand Burkert and illustrated by Chris Raschka.
Author photo by Claire Burkert. All other text and images are courtesy of Rand Burkert, Chris Raschka, and HarperCollins, and may not be used without expressed written consent.
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