The story is narrated by CATCH-M, a starlike spark born in darkness, and follows a fantastical path from fear and loneliness to awakening and connection. Children are invited to tune into their inner “braveheart,” face their feelings, and trust in their potential. Along the way, CATCH-M meets animals, such as Baby Cheetah and Zebra, who also struggle with difficult thoughts and uncertainty. CATCH-M offers simple visualizations, encouraging phrases, and easy-to-understand concepts from science and nature—such as how stars are formed and how the Earth’s magnetic pull works—to help young readers see that in dark times, love, imagination, and connection can light the way. Tejido’s illustrations employ bold colors and outer-space imagery, the book gently shares lyrical language and repeated affirmations (“I am extraordinary!”; “I love me”; “I can”) that give the book a reflective rhythm, encouraging readers to internalize its message. A mix of narrative, interactive callouts, and “fun, simple science” facts will also engage young minds. At times, the message becomes somewhat abstract and may be difficult for very young children to grasp, but older picture-book readers may find reassurance in its optimism. An author’s note, tying the message to her own childhood struggles and desire to help others “fill [their] heart[s],” adds authenticity.
