Moon babies

Karen Jameson

Book - 2019

Illustrations and rhyming text follow baby moons as they awaken in their crescent cradles, have an outing, storytime, and more, then get kisses from Grammies as they return to sleep.

Saved in:
Subjects
Genres
Stories in rhyme
Picture books
Published
New York, NY : G. P. Putnam's Sons [2019]
Language
English
Main Author
Karen Jameson (author)
Other Authors
Amy Hevron (illustrator)
Physical Description
32 pages (unnumbered) : color illustrations ; 25 x 25 cm
ISBN
9780525514817
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

As night falls, a secret moon world awakens. Grandmothers dress and feed their precious moon babes and then begin their night. The five baby moons and two grammies go for a walk, visit the playground, eat dinner, bathe, and fall asleep. Twelve-syllable iambic rhyming verse creates a soothing rhythm for young human children as they review a typical day in preparation for their own bedtimes. The text generally scans well, though at times feels a bit sentimental: Snuggle up for nursery rhymes. / Treasured once-upon-a-times. / Mother Goose and dear Bo-Peep. / Babies nod off, counting sheep. Hevron's superb art sets the book apart from similar bedtime books. Round comforting shapes dominate as collages made with acrylic and pencil on wood create rich texture and depth. Deep, saturated blues convey the vastness of outer space, punctuated by smiling constellations, both real and imaginary. Caregivers, especially grandparents, will enjoy this soothing bedtime tale. Pair with Johanna Wright's The Secret Circus (2009) or Maurice Sendak's In the Night Kitchen (1970) for stories about hidden night worlds.--Suzanne Harold Copyright 2019 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

In a lyrical bedtime story, anthropomorphic baby moons with blissful, doll-like expressions orbit throughout an intergalactic world of constellations and purple skies. At moonrise, the orbs begin their busy day, setting out for a walk and various amusements. When moonset looms, they bathe in a "grand celestial tub" with a swirl of soapsuds and "stardust powder"; eat "steamy porridge, smooth and white" from bowls seen floating along a swirl of interstellar light near the Little Dipper; and gather around to snuggle and listen to Mother Goose nursery rhymes before heading off to bed (even moon babies, it seems, "drift off, rock-a-byed"). Hevron creates a dreamy, cozy atmosphere in gentle painterly scenes that aren't attached to any particular time or place. Readers themselves may feel as though they are floating serenely alongside the peaceful lunar characters. Ages 3--5. (July)

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review

Baby-Toddler--Does the moon sleep? This debut picture book features a lyrical bedtime story about celestial babies. The sonorous narrative begins, "In the starry dark of night,/a secret moon world comes to light./Make a wish and you just might/visit baby moons tonight." This gentle story unfolds as two grandma moons take care of five small moon babies. Their day consists of getting dressed, going to the park, and more activities that human children will easily recognize. The closing page calls back to the opening couplet, encouraging readers to close their eyes and dream about the moon babies. The acrylic and pencil illustrations have a dreamlike quality and the purple and blue hues further set this tone. VERDICT A great purchase for libraries looking for more bedtime books.--Brooke Newberry, Winding Rivers Library System, West Salem, WI

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

A new moon is born every 28 days, but what does a baby moon do all day? Make a wish and join Jameson's moon babies to discover a day that is out of this world.Sample a breakfast bottle with milk that flows from the Milky Way. Stand by as the baby moons take a moonwalkbut "wobble-bobble, step and stumble. / Babies try but take a tumble." Join them as they go into orbit on their favorite playground ride, the carousel, and stack moonstones to build castles in the sky. Ever wondered what is in the Little Dipper? "Steamy porridge" for moon babies' dinner, of course. As the day winds down, it's time for bath "play and bubble fun. / Stardust powder when they're done," and, finally, the "softest jammies" and bedtime snuggles with "doting grammies" reading nursery rhymes. Soothing rhythms, a consistent rhyme pattern, lively rhymes, and gently playful references make this book a good bedtime read for both children and caregivers. Illustrations of pastel-hued moon babies against nighttime blue backgrounds are restful, too, but they also include details to discuss: ever watchful grammy moons, real and imagined constellation patterns, and a tiny astronaut doll tucked in every spread.A playful and soothing book for the close of day. (Picture book. 3-5) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.