The One and Only Dylan St. Claire

March 1, 2020
The stars shine brightly for a boy who knows he is destined to twinkle and sparkle. Dylan is one exuberant boy who is certain of his destiny: He will be "The Star" (literally) in the starring role of his school play about the solar system. He is well-trained in dance, song, and mime (with nods to Gypsy and Reba McIntyre) and quite comfortable with his talent. Alas, his teacher is assigning the roles, and Dylan is to play the role of the "SQUIRREL?!" Utter despair ensues even as the other students rejoice in their parts as objects in outer space. But then Dylan runs into the kid playing the role of Saturn, who is clearly unhappy with having to perform at all but convinces Dylan that the role of the squirrel is "the best part of the show!" After all, how many squirrels have ventured into space? Dylan interviews the local squirrels and is determined, thereafter, to be the "first squirrel-stronaut" ever. Yes, it is finally stardom. Edwards' little tale of a stage-struck boy may resonate with other wannabe performers and should entertain even those who prefer sitting in the audience. Ebbeler's bright and colorful illustrations fill the pages with action, their slight exaggerations appropriately histrionic, while leaving room for large speech bubbles for the characters' dialogue. Dylan presents white, and his classmates are a diverse mix. School-age dreams of acting can come true. (Picture book. 4-7)

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May 1, 2020

K-Gr 2-When self-proclaimed star Dylan St. Claire is cast as a squirrel in his school's outer space play, he is very disappointed about his perceived rejection. A shy classmate convinces Dylan that the squirrel (an astronaut) is a very important role in the production, and from there on out he embraces it wholeheartedly. In this debut, Edwards presents Dylan as a zippy, clever character who is endearing and has a flair for the dramatic. Ebbeler's acrylic full spreads are bright and colorful, and include a diverse cast of characters. In the end, Dylan makes the role of the squirrel his own and his uniqueness is celebrated in the closing line. Perhaps there's another lesson in the fact that he steals the spotlight from his less outgoing friends who were given more coveted roles. VERDICT A pleasant story for outgoing children and natural born scene-stealers, though educators may want to point out that everyone deserves the opportunity to shine.-Clara Hendricks, Cambridge Public Library, MA

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2020
Grades K-3 Edwards' debut provides a genuine and uniquely fabulous role model for children of all gender identities who delight in the performing arts. Dylan St. Claire is an extroverted theater kid who is beyond excited to star in an upcoming play about outer space, but when he doesn't land his desired role, Dylan is disappointed and confused?and readers will gladly accompany him on his ensuing adventure of perseverance, creativity, and optimism. The text bubbles with fun dialogue and strong narrative style, accompanied by Ebbeler's vibrant, detailed, action-packed illustrations of the shining Dylan, his dachshund Reba, and the out-of-this-world performance itself. Dylan is unabashedly proud of his imaginative and inventive streaks, and he's largely encouraged by those around him to chase his dreams. Through Dylan, Edwards and Ebbeler's sense of humor and empathy for performing arts kids shines through, and young readers will be motivated to reevaluate their understanding of belonging, teamwork, and personal pride.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)