The Moon's Almost Here

It's nearly time for the moon to rise, and all of nature knows what that means. "The moon's almost here./ Mama duck drifts to shore," writes Newbery Medalist MacLachlan in lullaby-like verse. "Ducklings swim after: / One, two, three, and four." On the porch of a house, a dog "curls in a ball/ And closes his eyes." The sky gradually turns from light turquoise to lavender to deep navy, and the moon makes its much-heralded entrance in the final pages, a glowing white ball. Witnessing it all are two figures: a redheaded boy in an old-fashioned nightgown and an adult in a white clown outfit and white makeup. Adult readers may recognize the latter as the iconic pantomime character Pierrot, cast as a doting father (parents explaining this reference can use the opportunity to introduce another commedia character, Pulcinella, who partly inspired dePaola's Strega Nona). DePaola's openhearted, virtuosic artistry reveals a deep connection between the pair, with the boy often echoing his father's theatrical miming gestures. Together, pictures and text establish their own reality--one that's immensely reassuring. Ages 4-8. Author's agent: Rubin Pfeffer, Rubin Pfeffer Content. (June)

Using the familiar character of Pierrot the Mime, the acrylic illustrations pair beautifully with the author's gentle farewell to the day and welcome of the full moon. The ode begins with Pierrot and a child waiting for the moon to come, watching as "Robin sings in her nest/Babies fly back to her/Ready to rest." Fittingly, the expansive sky in the background is robin's egg blue, the first in a spectrum of hues that gradually darken as twilight ascends and the two witness other animals with their offspring—sheep, ducks, calves—preparing for the night. The smallest creature, a butterfly, departs from the flower she has been sitting on to herald the next gorgeous spread of fireflies across a meadow and the first glimpse of moonlight. The text then turns to good nights until the full moon's reveal. No need to ever fear the dark with this book handily available. VERDICT A magical, wondrous, and comforting selection, especially for bedtime.—Joanna K. Fabicon, Los Angeles Public Library