Review by Booklist Review
Mabel loves to listen to her grandmother's stories and gaze at constellations through a telescope. But when Grana falls ill, it "seems impossible she'll ever get better." Mabel embarks on a dreamy mission through the night sky, fueled by her elder's wise words: "If we can touch the moon, then what is impossible?" Mabel's ascension is full of transformations, from bedsheets becoming wings to fear turning into courage. Engel's exquisite oil and acrylic illustrations have rich blue, purple, and pink atmospheric backgrounds. The child's imaginary flight to the stars is grounded in African mythology and African American history (elaborated upon in an ending author's note). Mabel sips sky water from a drinking gourd, is aided by an archer, and is comforted and cradled in the arms of "Seven Sistahs." In the morning, the little girl rushes to share her own stories with Grana and is heartened to find her spirits high and condition improved. This elegant, lyrical picture book is a contemplative and curative journey into a world of possibilities.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
A Black child named Mable grapples with her Grana's illness by undertaking an expedition through the constellations in an attempt to touch the moon--and "make impossible things possible." Among the stars, Mable sips from a drinking gourd (the Big Dipper), encounters a lion (Leo), and catches a ride on a massive dog (Canis Major, calmed with "Sit!" and "Who'sagoodboy?"). Engel's richly flowing, layered oil and acrylic art offers vibrant depictions of the brave child as she travels past smiling twins (Gemini) before persuading an archer with long, many-hued locs (Orion) to shoot her like an arrow at the moon, with support for her efforts provided by the Pleiades ("each sistah cradling her and sharing lullabies"). As back matter details, McDaniel's deliberate storytelling draws thoughtfully on history and mythology while centering Black representation among the stars. Through Mable, this spin on a star story offers a positive example of the importance of reaching for the impossible. Ages 4--8. (June)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
If Mable can touch the moon, what else might she be able to do? Mable, presenting as Black with long brown hair, has always loved the stories Grana tells her. However, Grana is now sick, and "it seems impossible she will ever get better." One day, while Mable pores over her "moon maps," Grana notes that if human beings can reach the moon, then nothing is impossible. That night, Mable dreams of flying to the moon. She launches from her bed-turned-trampoline and sails through the night sky. There, she sees a drinking gourd, a lion, a giant dog, a set of twins, a man pouring water, an archer who shoots her toward the moon, and a group of seven sisters who comfort her when she just misses it. When she wakes up, Mable tells Grana about her journey. Grana, now sitting up in bed when it was impossible before, tells Mable what a great storyteller she is. Encouraged by Grana's step toward recovery, Mable goes to bed that night determined to finally touch the moon and perhaps make the impossible possible for Grana. Engel's vivid, textured illustrations are spectacular. The stunning washes of blue, violet, aqua, pink, and gold play well with the dreamy theme. The backmatter consists of an author's note about the impetus for the book and a description of the seven constellations depicted therein. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Black girl magic to the moon and back. (author's note) (Picture book. 5-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
