JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<a class="star"></a><a class="star"></a><a class="star"></a><a class="star"></a><a class="star"></a>

CSS

.star {
    background-image: url(http://morearty.com/blog/assets/2013/06/star.gif);
    background-size: 15px;
    background-repeat: no-repeat;
    background-position: center;
    background-clip: border-box;
    transition: background-size 0.2s;
    -webkit-transition: background-size 0.2s;
    transition-timing-function: cubic-bezier(.07,1.41,.82,1.41);
    display: inline-block;
    width: 20px;
    height: 30px;
    text-decoration: none;
    cursor: pointer;
}

.star:hover {
    background-size: 20px;
}