Brilliant Star’s Mission
“Children are the most precious treasure a community can possess, for in them are the promise and guarantee of the future.”
Guided by this vision from the Bahá’í Faith, Brilliant Star is a welcoming, imaginative world where kids can explore their dreams, develop their self-esteem, and express their noble identity. We encourage children to see themselves as spiritual champions and leaders, to use their virtues to be of service to their families and communities, and to become engaged world citizens.
Brilliant Star invites friends of all faiths to explore universal concepts such as respect for nature, appreciation for cultural and racial diversity, peace among all religions and nations, the equality of women and men, and the elimination of prejudices. These principles are central to the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh, the Prophet-Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, who wrote:
“Ye are the fruits of one tree, and the leaves of one branch. Deal ye one with another with the utmost love and harmony, with friendliness and fellowship.”
Designed for children ages 8–12, years of important moral and emotional growth, Brilliant Star promotes the love of learning with compelling fiction, non-fiction, activities, games, puzzles, comics, interviews, music, and expressive art. Multiple learning styles are employed, such as interpersonal, intrapersonal, visual, and linguistic. Social and emotional challenges faced by children are addressed with respect for age-appropriate development.
Brilliant Star promotes universal values of good character, such as kindness, courage, creativity, and helpfulness. Readers can learn from the adventures of likeable fictional characters, as well as from outstanding real-life role models. Glimpses of Bahá’í history invite children to explore a faith which has members in every part of the world working toward global peace and unity.
Published six times per year by the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of the United States, Brilliant Star is an award-winning publication with subscribers in over 40 countries, coming from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and faiths. Children ages 7–12 in the U.S. are provided with gift subscriptions as registered members of the U.S. Bahá’í community. Brilliant Star is created through collaboration between staff, contractors, and a network of volunteer contributors from around the globe. We welcome submissions from contributors of all ages.
Brilliant Star’s name comes from the Bahá’í writings. From their earliest days, many Bahá’í children say a prayer by ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the son of Bahá’u’lláh and Interpreter of His writings:
“O God, guide me, protect me, make of me a shining lamp and a brilliant star.”
We think of our readers as brilliant stars. They illuminate the world with the radiant light of their character and talents. They have the ability to bring unity to our divided planet.
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