July MOSS Kids Book Club
- Kara Cecchi
- Jul 8
- 7 min read
And our July pick is...
July Pick -- Falling Star
CRASH LANDING TO A BOOK CLUB NEAR YOU!
From the creator of Hidden Gem and Sour Apple comes a new out-of-this-world picture book about a star who loses their shine from the pressures of over-achieving.
Being the star that people wish on is demanding work! And when the burden of performing becomes too much to bear, even celestial bodies take a hit.
As a star falls from their sky-high position, their self-esteem takes a real nosedive. But a lift from an unlikely source gives this star a new purpose, along with the courage to glow again.
Meet Our Creator:
Author/Illustrator: Linda Liu
Linda Liu is a SoCal-based author, illustrator, and designer with a taste for tactile textures, saucy shapes, and palatable palettes. She uses her light, playful aesthetic to balance out deeper narrative concepts exploring social emotional learning and the human condition.
A graduate of Rhode Island School of Design (BFA Illustration), Linda has since had her finger in many pies; from in-house graphic designer for finance and tech industry leaders, to author/illustrator of award-winning picture books. You can explore more of Linda's work on her website, at https://www.lindersliu.com/
Below you will find our monthly craft; printable activity sheets; and our community outreach activity where we will come together to create a star to hang for our community to enjoy. For more books to read this month, don't forget to check out our supplemental book lists --
Space Reads; Hidden Gem & Sour Apple by Linda Liu; and Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance Reads:
We really hope you enjoy this month of book club as we continue to keep our nationwide book club free & accessible for all. Each book is intentionally handpicked with each activity and outreach curated to engage and enrich our youth's experiences. Through these diverse and inclusive reads, working and playing together, and giving back to their own community, we hope to instill empathy, understanding, & kindness in our kids.
Let's Craft: Wish upon a falling star
In a world that constantly urges us to be the best, where test scores, trophies, and perfect performances often seem like the only measures of worth, our children carry an invisible weight on their shoulders. They're told to aim high, but not always taught that falling is part of the climb. Yet some of the most meaningful paths are found not in polished plans, but in the messy, unexpected moments - when we stumble, get back up, and discover something new about ourselves. We must remind kids that failure isn't the end; it's often the beginning. That greatness doesn't always look like first place. Sometimes, it looks like courage, resilience, like trying again. Let's create space for them to grow not into perfect people, but into whole ones.
With this story & craft, we wanted to tie in the Color Your World summer reading theme created for libraries across the country. It is during the summer when kids explore, learn new skills, & have to dust themselves off to try again. We hope that Falling Star encourages kids to make wishes AND to try their best, to fail AND to get back up, to color outside of the lines in order to create something new.
Materials:
Construction paper
Star shape for tracing - or you can draw free-hand
Markers
Scissors
Glue
Tissue paper strips or crepe paper
Modifications:
Easy: Prepare tracing star shape. Child may need hand-over-hand assistance to trace. May need assistance to cut, reminding kids to use both hands -- one to cut & one to hold, moving the paper.
Moderate: Allow children to create, may need occasional assistance with scissors.
Hard: Allow child to create with no modifications.
Instructions:
1. Gather materials. Draw or trace a 4-5in star shape onto construction paper and cut out the star shape.
2. With markers, write or draw a wish on the star. Flip over to give the star our main character's signature eyes.
3. Fold the star in half. Then fold back the two sides in half again to create a paper airplane look.
4. Glue on 3 small strips of tissue paper or crepe paper to the bottom of the star. Allow to dry completely. May need to refold just to make sure everything is set.
5. Now these paper wishing stars are ready to fly (or fall). Fly them to each other or head outside to send these wishes into the sky.
6. Now, we know this is unconventional so bare with us. These stars will inevitably fall. But that's the point. Sometimes wishes don't come true. And that's okay. Once your child's star has fallen a few times. Come back to their wish. Talk about how you all, as a group, can work together to make their dream come true. What can you do today to take the first step towards achieving their goal? Make the wish tangible. See it as something they can work towards. Talk about how it's going to be hard work. That maybe they will make mistakes, maybe they will fail. But remind them that a new wish or a new goal may take shape along the way and it's okay to change your mind. Who knows when inspiration will spark, when passions may become purpose. Add their next step to their star. When they're done playing with it, hang the star in their room or somewhere in the house they can see everyday. Encourage them to come back to their wish throughout the month. Maybe they have a new wish. Or maybe they've accomplished it and it's time to move on. Either way, this is a great way to talk about perseverance and passion.
*Additional activities: At Picture Books on Tap, our adult guests will be painting nebulas or galaxies using dabbing & flicking techniques, we'll be using this video for inspiration. For our youngest readers, we will starry night sensory bags for kids to squish around & play safely. We may even create some galaxy playdough for kids to take home with them.
Remember: We encourage you to request your local library purchase the title for your community to share. It's easy to request. Head to your local library's website. On the site, there will be a "Suggest A Title" tab (see below). Just add the book Falling Star by Linda Liu & submit. You can even share this blog with them. After reading or listening, we encourage you to please review the books on goodreads, on Amazon, & on your social media platforms. Reviews will help get the word out about these incredible books!
printable activity sheets:
We have created an activity kit for Falling Star filled with worksheets designed to encourage pre-writing skills, fine motor skills, visual motor & visual perceptual skills. Download the kit below:
Community Outreach: create a paper bag star together
There's something quietly powerful about gathering around a table, hands busy with paper bags and markers, creating art out of the ordinary. In that simple act, we shine a light on what's possible when we come together - each bringing our own spark, our own way of imagining. A community is built just like that: through shared moments, small collaborations, and the celebration of difference. This paper bag star becomes more than a craft - it becomes a symbol of what we can make when we lean into togetherness. It reminds us that even the humblest materials, like people, can become something luminous when united with care, creativity, and a belief in the beauty of the collective.
This activity doesn't need to be extravagant. This is a way for us to celebrate & educate with our kids -- to talk about self-esteem, pressures we may be facing, and a way to come together to help solve our problems & discover our passions.
Materials:
7 paper bags
Scissors
Markers, crayons, or paint sticks
Hole punch
Yarn
Double-sided tape or stapler
Instructions:
1. Grab 7 paper bags. Cut the bottoms off the bags (the sealed part).
2. Decorate the bags. We are using paint sticks because they are vibrant and dry quickly. Be sure to decorate one front and both sides. Unfold the bag so you can see the side portion. These will be the most visible when you make the star. Don't forget to add color to those portions.
3. Once your bags are decorated, tape them together. Place tape on the bottom corners of each bag. Keep repeating this process until all the bags are stuck together.
4. Hole punch your bags at the bottom and use a piece of yarn to loosely tie the bags together. You want it to be loose so you can open your star.
5. Then cut the top corners of your bags off to create a house shape.
6. Now, the magic! Pull your paper bags apart to watch the star form. Use the double-sided tape or the stapler to attach the first and last bag together. You may need to go back and staple your bags together if your tape isn't strong enough.
7. Tie a long piece of yarn to your yarn loop inside one of the bags to hang up your star.
Please do not skip the community outreach activities. We truly believe this outreach activity is a vital part of childhood & an opportunity to raise kind kids. Teaching our youth the importance of celebrating & educating & appreciating art within ourselves & our community. To learn kindness, empathy, acceptance, & understanding of others & choose to gift that to our community.
supplemental books:
We're also reading Usha and the Big Digger (also available in Spanish); The Stuff of Stars; A Home Under the Stars; & Starcrossed to celebrate & educate on stars, the night sky, & where we come from. This is a great opportunity to have a unit study on space or to discuss self-esteem & self-reliance. There are a few great resources for our supplemental books, check them out below:
YAY! Another MOSS Kids Book Club pick, craft, printable sheets, and community outreach activity. We would love to see all the stars your kids create. You do not need to share kid's faces. Please be sure to tag us on Instagram @mosskidsbooks & use #mosskidsbookclub. Sharing about MOSS Kids Book Club is a way for your community to learn more about what MOSS Kids has to offer & for them to know about brand new diverse & inclusive books. By doing so, we can reach & help more kids across the country. We'd also love to hear any feedback you may have, please email us at hello@mosskidsbooks.com. We appreciate you all so much for taking the initiative to bring kids together to read diverse books & hopefully learn vital life skills to help make our world a better place.
Don't Forget: We Have Local moss kids book club locations in eastern north Carolina!!
Wednesday, 07/09 at 7pm: Picture Books on Tap at Larema Beverage Co in Rocky Mount
Friday, 07/11 at 1030am: MOSS Kids Book Club at Braswell Memorial Library in Rocky Mount
Saturday, 07/12 at 10am: MOSS Kids Book Club at East Tarboro Eco Garden in Tarboro
Saturday, 07/26 at 10am: MOSS Kids Book Club with Drag Story Hour at Boxyard RTP
Schools out for the summer! But we're crafting plans to pop-in to more schools in the fall & expand our programming for tweens & teens. Stay tuned!!
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