Eyes that Speak to the Stars

 

Eyes that Speak to the Stars

A Review by Rut Tinoco De La Cruz

Synopsis

A meaningful story about a young Asian boy who learns about his cultural background and the importance of his differences through a conversation with his father. "Eyes that Speak to the Stars" makes an impact on both children and adults the same through it's detailed illustrations and relevant storyline.

Anti-Bias Elements

Diverse and Positive Illustrations

The illustrator of "Eyes that Speak to the Stars", Dung Ho, emphasizes the importance of accurate cultural depictions. She makes sure to avoid stereotypes when drawing characters, even when they are simply background illustrations. The detail in the pictures make the book a good choice even for non-readers.

Shining Light onto Invisible Groups

The portrayal of single parents is often erased from children's books but Joanna Ho instead builds her story with a single father as a key component. Fathers are often shown as the breadwinners in families and any emotional support for a child is seen as a mothers job but in this book we see a caring and present father supporting our young protagonist.

Relevant and Digestible to Children

Children are easily influenced and it is important that we challenge any stereotypes they are exposed to. In this book, we see that the young boy's friend had seen Asians portrayed with lines as eyes and he did the same when portraying the boy but this book acknowledges the hurtfulness that can come from things like this, even when friends don't intend to be hurtful, in a easily understood manner.