Seeing stars

What are starfish up to in their spare time? Perhaps they meet for underwater picnics, or set up a telescope to view their star cousins in the night sky. Maybe they make sand-angels, or arm wrestle each other? Using live critters in homemade sets, artisan Denise Adams dreams up whimsical and often humorous scenes depicting the "secret" life of common starfish, and pairs them with quirky, fun text. Mindful of the welfare of each starfish in her care, Denise meticulously prepares each display in advance. She takes the photos in outdoor light, then the wet wiggly stars are promptly returned to a fish bowl of fresh seawater until the next photo shoot. The well-fed cast of characters are lovingly returned to the sea within three or four days. The result is a creative meditation on the hidden habits of the wild creatures living all around us. Featuring dozens of original scenes, this lively gift book in the style of Nancy Rose's The Secret Life of Squirrels will leave readers smiling and dreaming up their own starfish scenarios.