Horn Book (Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2012)

The well-known song from Disney's Pinocchio provides the text of this lavishly illustrated picture book. The art features fairies, rainbows, a smiling star, and a cast of children of different ethnicities. It's all very pretty (in an overblown sort of way), but it may not engage children. An accompanying CD of Judy Collins performing the song is included.

Kirkus Reviews

The venerable and well-loved song from Disney's Pinocchio is lovingly re-imagined. The song has been recorded by dozens of singers in every possible style. Harline's lyrics are uplifting and hope-filled and have remained in collective memory for 70 years. Each generation of children exposed to reissues of the movie finds it new and fresh. In this version, Puybaret's visual interpretation wistfully evokes a peaceful and magical world. A star-filled midnight-blue sky glows from the endpapers through the double-page spreads as a unifying motif. The wishing star appears first as a distant, diaphanous, almost ghostlike figure that morphs into a stylized fairy with delicate wings, dressed in blues and yellows. As she floats and flies about, she gathers a parade of multiethnic, multinational children through a brightly colored dreamscape. Then, returning to her place in the sky, she shines benevolently as the children fly about, with and without visible wings. The children's wishes appear at first to be mostly about candy and toys, but they interact and come together with gestures of peace and acceptance. The children's clothing, rendered in sharp, bright colors, reflect their various ethnicities but stop just short of stereotype. Little ones will want to pore over the pages again and again as they read and sing along with the Judy Collins recording that is included. A gem. (illustrator's and performer's notes) (Picture book. 2-6)

School Library Journal (Tue Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2011)

PreS-Gr 1 Puybaret's talent for illustrating well-loved songs ("Puff, the Magic Dragon" and "Over the Rainbow") has alit on the 1940s song from Disney's Pinocchio . With art flavored by its decade of origin, a star becomes a fairy who emerges from the sky to lead children from around the world through a fantasy land to their dreams. She wears a jaunty cap, layered stoles, a starred skirt, and striped stockings as she hovers, thanks to crisp-edged wings. The fantasy villages along the way show fun details in the spreads, scenes tied together with swirls of curlicues or star paths. The paintings' rich cobalts and pumpkins wander into pale blues and golds as needed. With the final phrase, the children float in the air, riding a unicorn, flying with birds and skiing on the wind. The CD of Judy Collins performing the song is lovely. Unfortunately, the text does not match her version, so these are perhaps best enjoyed separately. The disc also includes "The Other Side of My World" and a rather melancholy rendition of "All the Pretty Little Horses." Gay Lynn Van Vleck, Henrico County Library, Glen Allen, VA