Set in the rural Appalacian mountains of Maggie Way, North Carolina, this is a tale of aSet in the rural Appalacian mountains of Maggie Way, North Carolina, this is a tale of a mother who is heavily pregnant with twins, and her five year old daughter who rely on each other while the father is away in the service. Ernestine's mother tells her that she is the big dipper and Ernestine is the little dipper and her father who is in Germany sees the same stars that are in the sky in the Milky Way.

Ernestine is given the task of delivering two jars of milk to a family that live far away. Ernestine believes she can perform the task and reminds herself she is five and a big girl.

Along the way, Ernestine is followed by a family of squirrels, comes upon a cluster of whistle pigs as well as baby racoons and their mother. One of the jars of milk falls and later is recovered and now is butter.

This is a soft story of people helping each other, and a five year old child who matures as she learns the importance of helping others. ( )

With her father away fighting in World War II, five-year-old Ernestine must help her heavily pregnant mother out as best she can in this picture-book set in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. When her mother gives her the task of carrying two mason jars full of milk to another family, whose home lies some ways away, Ernestine sets out, meeting each challenge with the declaration that she is "five years old and a big girl..."

With an engaging, ultimately heartwarming story from American author Kerry Madden-Lunsford, and lovely artwork from British illustrator Emily Sutton, Ernestine's Milky Way is an immensely satisfying picture-book about a young child who meets life's difficulties with courage and determination. Apparently the author, who also publishes as Kerry Madden, has written a series of children's novels set in the Maggie Valley, where this story is also laid. The narrative here was inspired by the childhood of one of the author's friends, and with its tale of an Appalachian child whose father is off fighting in WWII, reminded me of Gloria Houston's The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree. Recommended to picture-book readers looking for stories set in Appalachia, or featuring children facing challenges with a positive, can-do attitude. Also recommended to fans of the artist, in whose number I count myself. ( )