Review by Booklist Review
Peering out the window, a child spots the glowing full moon. "Should we go say hello?" they ask their guardian. The pair bundles up tight and steps into the snowy evening to admire the brilliance. A few nights pass--delightfully depicted in split day/night panels--and the child notices that the moon is partially missing! The adult explains that the waning is normal and suggests that the moon could simply be feeling shy. When they eventually head out to experience the new moon, there isn't a bit of it to be seen. Without the moonlight, the two are depicted as floating eyes against a pitch-black background. The child is unconcerned, noticing the starlight swirling around them, and they reassure the darkened moon that they understand that "not even the Moon feels like shining all of the time." It's a wondrous introduction to moon phases and the pleasures of sky gazing, and the exquisite illustrations are luminous and expansive. A beautiful bedtime book for any child with their sights set on the stars.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Though the title may nod to classic bedtime fare, Turk (Color the Sky) is up to something different in this volume, highlighting a family who greets the moon nightly, and out of doors, as it undergoes change. A child in a warm, cozy room points at the full moon out a window. It hangs in a wintry, pitch-black sky, its cool, pale blue light contouring the faces of the human duo, who share golden skin and dark curly hair. "Look! The Moon!" says the child. "Should we go say hello?" The parent wraps a scarf around the child's neck, and they address the orb: "You look so beautiful tonight!" Panels show days passing, and a change: the bottom edge of the sphere is shadowed. "It's just hiding its face a little," explains the parent; "Should we go out and say hello?" Over the nights, the moon is whittled away until the dark of the New Moon reveals new wonders. Turk interweaves three elements with skill and care: a slow, thoughtful examination of a commonplace yet miraculous phenomenon; rich language in which to discuss it; and color and texture that capture the infinite reaches of the night sky and the bond shared by a close-knit adult and child. Ages 4--8. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Book Group. (Sept.)
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Review by Horn Book Review
"Look! The Moon!" a child exclaims. "Should we go out to say hello?" Child and caretaker bundle up and head out into the snowy night to greet it; they go back inside promising that "we'll see you again another night." But just a few nights later, the child observes with dismay that "part of it is gone!" The adult reassuringly says that the moon is "just hiding its face a little" and that in two weeks' time it will even look as though it's gone altogether: "We call that the New Moon." Turk's textured paintings -- done in marbled inks and gouache -- with their varied compositions maintain visual interest in this mostly dark, monochromatic landscape. The bright colors of the two moon-watchers' winter coats grow muted as the orb wanes, and warm interiors make for a sharp contrast to the silvered black and blue exteriors. When the pair witnesses the new moon, the child is ready for its apparent absence -- and for the glorious show of stars now visible, twinkling against a dark sky. There is no attempt at a scientific explanation for what happens, just a conversation between adult and child that gently personifies the moon without quite anthropomorphizing it. A final glimpse of the waxing crescent moon provides a satisfying conclusion. Vicky Smith September/October 2022 p.72(c) Copyright 2022. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A look at the many faces and phases of the moon and a child's understanding of the natural world. A child with beige skin and curly dark hair points out the window at the full moon, eager to go say hello. Together, the child and a caregiver bundle up against the wintry chill and head out on the first of many nocturnal jaunts to explore the various shapes and phases of the moon. One night, the child expresses concern about the disappearing moon. The caregiver reassures the child that all is well ("It sounds like the Moon is feeling shy. Should we go out and say hello?"), and the two sit with and comfort the moon as it slowly disappears over a period of two weeks, a process depicted in graphic novel--like panels. In an unexpected surprise, the child and caregiver appear etched white against a moonless blue-purple sky. Loose lines and expressive faces convey the closeness between the child and caregiver. Though the text is quiet and fairly straightforward, striking angles and perspectives keep each spread vibrant and eye-catching. Orblike shapes echo throughout the book--for instance, the child's head. Warm reds, yellows, and purples used to portray indoor scenes transform into thinner, flatter hues in the cold moonlight, and a marbleized texture lends depth and movement to each illustration. This one pairs well with Jane Yolen's Owl Moon (1987), illustrated by John Schoenherr, with a unique art style perfect for bedtime and library storytime alike, with age-appropriate STEM opportunities as well. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Learning, empathy, and wonder in an ever shifting luminous landscape. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
