When the Stars Came Home

When Ojiig moves to the city with his family, he misses everything they left behind. Most of all, he misses the sparkling night sky. Without the stars watching over him, he feels lost.

His parents try to help, but nothing seems to work. Not glow-in-the-dark sticker stars, not a star-shaped nightlight. But then they have a new idea for how to make Ojiig feel better — a special quilt stitched through with family stories that will wrap Ojiig in the warmth of knowing who he is and where he came from. Join this irresistible family as they discover the power of story and tradition to make a new place feel like home. 

Despite his parents’ attempts to help Ojiig adjust to city life, Ojiig’s depression worsens, and soon “Ojiig didn’t know how to wish anymore.” Then Ojiig’s mother, who is Anishinaabe, begins to sew a quilt. As she sews, she narrates stories about her ancestors and their challenges, such as hiding from the government agents who wanted to take the children to Boarding School. When his mother presents the quilt to Ojiig, he “thought about all the stories his mama had stitched into the quilt. He thought about how all his ancestors’ stories lived inside him. And he wondered what kinds of stories future generations might tell about him.” 

The last page shows Ojiig wrapped in the quilt, surrounded by family, and he realizes, “Home is where you learn who came before you. Home is where you discover who you are. Home is where you imagine who you might become.” The book’s back gives more information about the Indigenous Boarding Schools and the Anishinaabe quilting tradition. 

When the Stars Came Home is beautifully illustrated using deep purples and blues to imitate the night sky and includes illustrations of Ojiig’s ancestors. The natural tones in the pictures of Ojiig’s ancestors emphasize Indigenous people’s connection with nature. Each page features one to five complex sentences, making it essential for an adult to read the book to their child rather than having them read it independently. 

While When the Stars Came Home focuses on the Indigenous experience, any reader who has moved to a new place will understand Ojiig’s emotions. The illustrations and the story are a beautiful reminder that home is where the heart is. To reinforce the importance of storytelling, pair When the Stars Came Home with Octopus Stew by Eric Velasquez. However, if you’d like to read more stories that show the Indigenous experience, read Remember by Joy Harjo, Dragonfly’s Tale by Kristina Rodanas, and Berry Song by Michaela Goade.  

Sexual Content  

• None 

Violence  

• None

Drugs and Alcohol  

• None

Language  

• None 

Supernatural 

• None 

Spiritual Content  

• None