Written in beautiful rhyming verse A Tiny Light starts this way …

When you go to bed tonight,
be sure to leave a tiny light,
so twinkles in the milky way
can find you when they come to play.

And sure enough they came with their magic. They show the children so many wonderful sights: fireflies swirling around and painting wonderful pictures of magic gardens in pink and blue; the southern lights, Saturn’s rings and the Moon’s dark face.

And by the time the children are ready for their sleep those Twinkles are back to their home in the Milky Way.

This book was inspired by Alison’s mother in-law, who first wrote about a creature who came down from the stars at night and entertained children, making them laugh.

If you are looking for a gentle story to read to your littlies at bedtime, then look no further than this special book.

Reviewed by Merle Morcom
Age Guide 4+

Visit Alison Lester’s website

Alison Lester was born in November, 1952 in Foster in Victoria, Australia.

She grew up on a farm overlooking the sea and first rode a horse as a baby in her father’s arms. She still lives in the country and rides her horse whenever she can.

After training as an art teacher and teaching for one year, Alison began illustrating books in 1979 and five years later, wrote her first book.

Her picture books mix imaginary worlds with everyday life, encouraging children to believe in themselves and celebrate the differences that make them special.

Family and nature are the most important themes in her work – loving and caring for the world and its people

She is involved in many community art projects and spends part of every year travelling to remote indigenous communities, using her books to help children and adults write and draw about their own lives.

In 2011 Alison, along with Boori Prior, was appointed Australia’s first Children’s Laureate, a position they shared for two years.

She was also an ambassador for the 2012 National Year of Reading.

She is currently an ambassador for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation, the Melbourne Royal Children’s Hospital’s Education Institute, the Clean Ocean Foundation and Buk Bilong Pikinini.