Eleanor's moon

When Eleanor and her family move to a new city, her bond with her beloved grandfather is tested. "The night Eleanor was born, a brilliant harvest moon lit up the sky." Grandfather tells baby Eleanor that no matter where he is, the moon will always keep them together. As Eleanor grows older, she and Grandfather bond over a love of the moon. But then Eleanor must move far from Grandfather. Thinking of the moon makes her miss him even more, and soon she begins to see the moon everywhere--a half-eaten waffle resembles a half-moon, while rowboats look like a crescent. But the pair use video chat and snail mail to stay in touch, and as each gazes up at the moon in the night sky, they're reminded of each other. Both are tan-skinned, but for the most part, their faces aren't visible--an intriguing artistic choice, though one that may distance readers from the characters. The illustrations, made up of vivid, flat colors (especially lovely during scenes set at night), are appealing; kids will especially enjoy picking out moon shapes on pages where Eleanor is reminded of Grandpa. The meditative story, however, won't hold most readers' attention. The conflict is resolved in an unrealistically quick manner, with Eleanor seemingly overcoming her sadness in just a few pages. Children in similar situations may relate, but many will lose interest. Well intended but too quiet to engage most readers. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.