Molly on the moon

Mary Robinette Kowal, 1969-

Book - 2022

Molly lives with her mother and baby brother in an underground room on the Moon, and there is very little room for toys; Molly is good at making things for herself, but her brother is too young, so she has to learn to share.

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1 / 2 copies available
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Subjects
Genres
Children's stories Pictorial works
Picture books
Published
New York : Roaring Brook Press 2022.
Language
English
Main Author
Mary Robinette Kowal, 1969- (author)
Other Authors
Diana Mayo (illustrator)
Edition
First edition
Physical Description
32 unnumbered pages : color illustrations ; 29 cm
Audience
Ages 3-6.
Grades K-1.
ISBN
9781250259615
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

Molly and her family have moved to the moon. Restrictions in the rocket meant that Molly was only able to bring one toy, her little stuffed lamb, Lassie, but she quickly fashions the food crates into a comfortable box fort, the old solar panel into an excellent cape, and the tin cans into a dainty tea set. The creative play goes swimmingly until Lassie disappears and rematerializes in the arms of her little brother. Though briefly peeved that she unwillingly shared her beloved toy, Molly stops to consider that perhaps her brother needs more toys, too, along with a bit of company. Kowal's first foray into picture books sees the intriguing premise play out with sweet intimacy and humor, even delving into the potential realities of moon living in endnotes. Acrylic paints, colored pencils, pastels, and collage coalesce into dreamy illustrations rendered in cool, soothing blue tones; the moon module is cozily captured in an initial cutaway reminiscent of The Little Prince and snug, solitary settings. A splendid story in praise of imagination and generosity.

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

Molly, her mother, and baby brother Luke have moved to the moon. But following the rocket-ship ride, their underground moon module is no speculative paradise: each child could bring only one toy--a stuffed lamb for Molly, blocks for Luke--and while Mayo's (Snow Ghost) mixed-media characterizations, soft textures, and blue hues offer a visual gentleness, the brown-skinned family's room is cramped, isolated, and sparsely furnished. Molly soon improvises more playthings, including a tin-can tea set and a "witch's cape" from an old solar panel cover. But when Molly angrily pulls her lamb away from Luke, sending him floating to the room's ceiling in the moon's weak gravity, Molly realizes how much her brother needs her. "He didn't have anybody at all to play with on the Moon," writes Kowal (the Lady Astronaut series, for adults), "except for her." And with Mom's help, she turns pieces of the witch's cape into a stuffed animal for Luke. Tensions between siblings are familiar material, but Molly's quiet determination to make the most of her new and limited circumstances gives this story emotional heft. An author's note discusses the moon's weak gravity. Ages 3--6. (Apr.)

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

PreS-Gr 1--For the child who has ever wondered what it's like to live on the moon, this lovely science fiction picture book imagines just that. Molly, her mother, and baby brother Luke are all sent to the moon to live in an underground room. They are limited on what they can bring, so Molly and Luke are each allowed only one toy. Molly chooses a stuffed lamb and Luke brings blocks. Molly has a good time creating new toys out of cast offs from other things but when Luke tries to take Molly's lamb, Molly has to come up with an idea to get her toy back. The message of the story is one of problem-solving and generosity, which works on both the moon and the earth. The artwork is beautifully rendered in mixed media that feels like watercolors splayed across translucent paper, and gives the setting an appropriately ethereal feel. The plot plays with weightlessness, but it's the author's note that adds some substance to the setting of the moon, offering some facts about what it would be like to actually live there. VERDICT This is a lovely story with an SEL message and opportunities for maker space activities.--Debbie Tanner

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

What one wild and precious item would you take with you if you moved away? Molly, her mother, and her younger brother, Luke, move to the moon. Because of space constraints, Molly and Luke are allowed to bring only one toy each--Molly brings a stuffed lamb, and Luke brings blocks. The siblings quickly figure out how to repurpose items in their module, the room they live in on the moon. Food crates become a fort, a solar panel cover becomes a cape, and tin cans become a tea set. The three of them must learn how to treat their belongings gently and with care since there is no gravity on the moon. Most important, they adapt to their new life and have fun together. An author's note explains why it is always dark in Molly's module as well as what gravity is and how space works differently than Earth does, and she challenges readers to make their own toys from common household items. Mayo's illustrations are quiet yet exquisite, with expressive characters and many full-bleed spreads that indicate the vastness of space. Almost every shade of blue is included, from periwinkle to indigo, and the tiny twinkling lights in the module seem to glow on the page. Molly, Luke, and their mother are brown-skinned. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Out of this world! (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.