Horn Book Review
Cole tells of one familys autumnal evening ritual: After dinner, after tooth-brushing time, we put on pajamas, then coats and shoesWe are going on a walk to look for the moon. A mother and child leave their city apartment building and walk down the block, past a park, a fruit and vegetable stand, a dance studio, and more. The sharp-eyed child catches glimpses of the moon peeking out from between buildings, reflected in puddles, and in its full, bright glory. Mama, why doesnt everyone look? asks the child, in awe of the moons majesty and with eyes raised to the sky. Theyre busy, is Mamas response, and viewers can see how so in Gmezs luminous illustrations showing snapshots of life throughout the city. Heres a person practicing an instrument; someone is writing a letter; dogs are being walked. The pictures offer a balance of simple shapes, intriguing eye-catching details, and judicious patterns. The palette is mainly dark, the sky somewhat mysterious, but the warm glow thrown off by street lamps, lights from windows, and the moon itself brings comfort and reassurance--even as the child, back home in bed, drifts off to sleep. Pair with the similarly themed Windows, reviewed in this issue. elissa gershowitz (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
A mother and child search for the moon on an evening walk in the city.In the early fall darkness, mom and little one put on their pajamas, coats, and shoes and head out into the neighborhood to find the moon. Sometimes it hides behind buildings or clouds. Sometimes it is only seen as a reflection in a puddle. The child narrator is filled with curiosity and wonder, working to understand what they are seeing and not seeing. The narrator asks questions, Mama answers simply, and her child inhales the information; they are in perfect harmony. "Oh, stars." "Oha reflection." The street is filled with sights and sounds, but they are the only moon-hunters. Cole's syntax is spot-on, clear, descriptive, and filled with lovely images. Gmez's digitally rendered, double-page spreads capture the city neighborhood in evening tones of brown, navy, and dark green with illumination from street lights, apartment windows, and, of course, the elusive moon. There are charming vignettes of people of diverse skin tones, in their apartments or passing by on foot or on bikes, busy with their own lives. The white, redheaded mother and child move through the pages always touching, intense in their quest and sure of their love. This bedtime story will have little readers begging to explore it again and again. Wonder-filled and delightful. (Picture book. 2-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
