Said Vincent van Gogh of his well-known painting The Starry Night (1889), "For my part, I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of stars makes me dream."
From the time we're children, we make wishes on stars... "Star light, star bright/First star I see tonight/I wish I may, I wish I might/Have the wish I wish tonight."
As we grow up and older, the stars mean different
things to each of us. Wrote Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
in The Little Prince:
All men have the stars, but they are not the same things for different people. For some, who are travelers, the stars are guides. For others they are no more than little lights in the sky. For others, who are scholars, they are problems. For my businessman they are wealth. But all these stars are silent. You – you alone – will have the stars as no one else has them.
As the last page in the award-winning book Dream reminds us:
Look up, up, up
into those billion billion sparkling stars.
What dreams do you find?
Little dreams, big dreams,
each a hope looking for a life to make it real
a life like yours.
The star is a central image in Dream. In fact, each of the 15 illustrators has hidden a star in their illustration. Find each hidden star – and when you do, don't forget to make a wish!
Dream Stars and the World Dream Chest are a chance for children, teens, and adults to connect – or reconnect – with their own dreams and the dreams of others. You can share, explore, discuss, discover, and create.
Dreams give us hope and direction. They challenge us to find the very best part of ourselves. We all need dreams, no matter how young or how old. And the world needs more Dreamers, because dreamers are the ones with the creativity and courage to try new things, overcome obstacles, and make a difference in their own life and the lives of others.
Make origami Dream Stars – each with a special wish or dream written inside – and then submit your Dream Star total and stories to us below. This is a meaningful activity for families, schools, and community groups. It connects individuals and communities. There are several ways you can use your Dream Stars, including becoming a part of the Dream Chain. Celebrate the hopes and dreams of young and old!
We want to celebrate the hopes and dreams of young and old throughout the world. We'll be posting a running Dream Star total along with your stories about your experiences making Dream Stars and your hopes and dreams for yourself, your local community, and our world.
How to Submit Dream Stars