Sophie Shares the Stars by Heather Smith and Catherine Petit is an interesting book due to the different layers it has. First, it is an adoption story. Sophie has lived with “”My Michael” since she was three. And this is why she calls him what she does and his mother “Our Julia.” But the second level is he is a “real” parent as he does the things all good parents do, takes care of her when she is sick, helps her clean up messes, and tells her she is his universe. But when Michael is sick a hot water bottle, square cracker and ginger ale does not help. In fact, people say Michael doesn’t “look sick.” And here is the final major layer. Michael’s illness is invisible. 
The afterwards tells us that the author herself lives with long Covid and her son also has an illness that makes it seem like he is not sick. This allows the reader and listener to pick their own situation. Maybe Michael has long Covid, or another illness that has physical symptoms, but not necessarily visible ones. Or maybe he is dealing with mental health issues as some of the symptoms Michael has could be interpreted this way.
Told from the point of view of Sophie, the theme of the universe, the vastness and then the small all come together to show a typical child growing up, having to venture into the world not alone, but sometimes not understanding, and loving her extended family (she has an “aunt” and a new cousins to be as well as Michael and Julia). This all comes to life in simpler illustrations, but not simplistic that are colorful, not overly detailed but not overflowing and fun, bright colors. Read via an online reader copy, the final product is due mid September 2025.
