Review by Booklist Review
Astronomer Chang-hoon introduces phases of the moon in this Korean import. Using simple yet clear language, the author describes the waxing and waning of the moon as it rises and sets, and its visibility in relation to the sun. Small thumbnail drawings reinforce these concepts while soft, lovely, and aptly luminous, large-scale illustrations feature a girl and her father participating in moonlit activities, such as fishing, stargazing, and attending a fair, in rural and urban Korean settings. Chang-hoon then invites readers to use a ball and a flashlight to experiment with phases of the moon on their own. The same girl depicted in the illustrations serves as a model for the experiment. In the final sections of the book, the author turns to moon-related topics, including tides, the lunar calendar, and fun facts. The latter also highlights Korean culture, such as folklore relating the moon's appearance to a bunny pounding rice with a mortar and pestle.Pair with Gail Gibbons' classic The Moon Book for another look at lunar phases and characteristics.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
"What kind of Moon will rise tonight?" Starting with a rising moon and ending with a lunar calendar that traces the moon's changes, Chang-hoon introduces the subject, explaining, "Unlike the Sun, the Moon does not make its own light. It glows by reflecting the light from the Sun." Further pages discuss its gravitational pull, detail how the moon waxes and wanes, and invite readers to duplicate the latter phenomenon for themselves ("Grab a ball and turn on a flashlight"). Throughout, Ho's textural, luminous illustrations show an East Asian-presenting child gazing at the orb, bathed in lunar light. Understanding the secrets behind the changing moon doesn't take away from its beauty, but deepens it, in this ethereal exploration. Back matter concludes. Ages 3--7. (Jan.)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Wonder at the changes in the moon's appearance over the course of a month. In this welcome title, a Korean astronomer who also writes for young readers offers a comprehensive explanation of the changing phases of the moon. In clear, relatively simple words, he begins by describing the moon's light as a reflection from the sun. He goes on to show that the moon's waxing, waning, and apparent disappearance depend on how much of the sunlit side of the moon can be seen from Earth. In smaller print below the main text, the author offers more detailed information about when the moon rises and sets for each phase, accompanied by illustrations. Jung then invites readers to experiment with a flashlight and a ball to see how this works. He shows how the gravity of the sun and moon affect Earth's tides and briefly touches on lunar calendars. The text, translated from Korean by Morris, is smooth, but at one point the waxing crescent moon "rises in the early evening"--technically an incorrect statement, as moonrise refers to when the moon rises over the horizon, not when it becomes visible in the sky. The smaller print correctly states that the moon follows the sun to rise in the early morning but, hard to see in the sunlight, becomes visible only after dark. Lovely sepia night scenes, instructive thumbnail images of each phase of the moon at different times of the day and night, and helpful diagrams add to the package. An Asian-presenting adult and child can be seen throughout observing the moon. Beautifully illustrated and carefully explained, this is an attractive, helpful addition to the science shelf. (information on the moon, photos, Korean proverb) (Informational picture book. 4-9) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
