Review by Booklist Review
The moon is important to nocturnal creatures, so Emile the polar bear is especially honored when he's selected to be its new keeper. As soon as his tenure begins, however, Emile notices that the full moon seems to be shrinking. After failing to find a solution, he is joined by a giant green bird, just as the last sliver of a crescent disappears. Things come and go, says the bird, and sure enough, a new moon soon returns. In her first solo picture-book effort, Zosienka does more than illustrate the phases of the moon cycle; she effortlessly builds a whimsical, anthropomorphic animal community around the tale of Emile, a large bear with the curiosity and heart of a young child. His earnest attempts to tend to the moon reflect a love for nature that young readers will find contagious. The gouache and colored-pencil art presents a larger-than-life, bright-shining moon that feels undeniably magical. In turns humorous, informative, and heartwarming, Emile's gentle story will resonate widely.--Ronny Khuri Copyright 2019 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Emile, a polar bear, is summoned to "the meeting of the night creatures," who name him the "new moon keeper"--a job requiring tools such as pliers, a net, crimson string, and a jar of fireflies. In Zosienka's solo debut, atmospheric gouache and colored pencil illustrations conjure a dreamy world drenched in rich blues and luminous whites, and lend Emile a quiet steadfastness. Climbing a ladder, Emile introduces himself to the resplendent full orb. He shoos away the clouds and fruit bats, and talks to the moon "in the stillness of the night." When the bear notices the moon shrinking, he offers food ("Have you had enough to eat, Moon?") and riddling fireflies to no avail. Despairing as the moon turns into the merest sliver, he tells a green bird: "I was supposed to protect it, but I don't know how to make it stay." The bird reassures Emile that "things come and go," and the moon ("a new smile in the sky") returns anew. A gentle celestial tale that is both a clever introduction to lunar phases and a reassuring meditation on impermanence. Ages 4--8. (Mar.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1--Emile, a polar bear, is entrusted by a group of other animals to be the new moon keeper (no mention is made of the previous occupant of this job). He gathers numerous supplies and climbs a tall ladder up a sycamore tree where he introduces himself to his new charge. He uses a vacuum cleaner to clear away stray clouds, shoos away some bats, but mostly just talks to the moon. Over several nights, Emile realizes that the moon is getting smaller. Alarmed, the bear tries to cheer it up by telling jokes, but the moon still wanes. Emile tells a passing bird that he's "lost the moon." The bird demonstrates that just because something cannot be observed, it doesn't mean it has disappeared. "Things come and go--you'll see." The next night, the moon reappears and waxes until it becomes full; relieved Emile blows it a kiss. Zosienka's delicate gouache and color pencil spreads feature appealing anthropomorphized animals living in houses but not wearing any clothes. VERDICT A wonderfully whimsical story that would have benefited from additional explanation of moon phases, but one that should still appeal to little fans of other lunar titles such as Jami Gigot's Mae and the Moon or Eric Carle's classic Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me.--Yelena Voysey, formerly at Pickering Educational Library, Boston University
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Emile, a white bear, is chosen by the village's "night creatures" as the new moon keeper. He gathers potential tools for the job: a net, a feather duster, a jar of fireflies, and more. He climbs a 93-step ladder into a sycamore tree, introducing himself to the full, luminous moon. Emile performs simple duties, blowing away clouds and shooing fruit bats that fly too close. "There isn't a lot to do, but Emile finds the moon nice to talk to in the stillness of the night." Gradually, Emile notices that the moon's getting smaller. Alarmed, he consults a neighbor and cousin, who confirm his impressions. What to do? He offers food, then releases fireflies to share a riddle. "Emile giggles at the joke and sees that the moon is smiling, too." With the moon thread-thin, a big green bird appears, reassuring Emile: "Things come and goyou'll see." (Sharp kids might observe the bird flying a circuit round the moon, disappearing behind, then emerging from, the orb's shadowed surface.) Through the moonless night, Emile repeats the bird's words until he falls asleep, awakening to a "new smile" that waxes to fill the sky again. Talented illustrator Zosienka's pictures, made with colored pencil and opaque paints, employ inky blue-blacks and warm whites to depict bear, moon, and the night sky. A charming addition to titles exploring the phenomenon of the moon's phases. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
