A Way to the Stars

An enchanting and heart-warming story between a father and son, that will make you want to reach for stars.

Joe wants to find a way to the stars. With the help of his dad, he builds a ladder, a tower, even a rocket to go up, up, up… Oh no! Crash, bang, wallop! What next?

Together, the pair jump on pogo sticks and build sheds to paint their dreams and find a way. An uplifting and magical tale of sky-high courage, imagination and the bond between father and son that will make your heart soar. Written by internationally acclaimed author David Almond and brought to glorious life by award-winning illustrator Gill Smith in their first collaboration.

For a soaring story of the loving bond between parent and child, A Way to the Stars… is sheer delight. -- Imogen Russell Williams The Guardian
There aren’t enough books celebrating the relationship between fathers and sons, so this magical story… is a very welcome addition… Gently funny, emotionally warm, this is a reminder of how important the bond between parent and child can be. Daily Mail
Almond… has been producing wildly imaginative picture books for young readers for many years… A Way to the Stars is a charming story about the bond between a father and son… This is an ode to faith and familial love. The Big Issue
A magical and uplifting picture book that explores the bond between a father and son. Books for Keeps
If you want a story to show resilience, then this A Way to the Stars is the go-to book! ReadingZone

David Almond is the acclaimed author of many award-winning novels for children such as Skellig, Kit's Wilderness and My Name Is Mina, and has collaborated with artists Polly Dunbar, Dave McKean and Oliver Jeffers on fiction for younger readers. David's books sell all over the world, and in 2011 he was the recipient of the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award. In 2021, David was awarded the OBE for Services to Literature. For more info visit:

Whilst working initially as a primary teacher, then within community arts and theatre, Gill Smith pursued illustration and achieved an MA with distinction in Children’s Book Illustration at the Cambridge School of Art. She was shortlisted for the Batsford Illustration prize and a winner of international competition, "Picture This". She illustrated Maria's Island, a retelling of Victoria Hislop's bestselling book, The Island, reimagined for children.

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