Moon (Peek-Through Picture Book)

Die-cuts reveal the phases of the moon as it waxes and wanes in this companion to Tree and Bee. "Have you ever wondered why/ The moon shines in the nighttime sky?" writes Hegarty as the book opens. "How every creature, plant, and tree/ Is subject to its mystery?" Teckentrup's grainy-textured images reveal the nocturnal worlds of animals in a variety of habitats that include the desert and a beach where turtles amass to lay their eggs under a full moon (oddly, the moon blinks out and becomes a new moon on the following page). Though readers won't learn much about the animals or moon itself, it's still a dramatic and poetic nighttime journey. Ages 3-7. (Feb.)

PreS-Gr 1--The moon provides a unifying theme for a whirlwind tour around the world's habitats, including the desert, the ocean, the jungle, the icy arctic, and many more. With every page turn in this follow-up to the similarly illustrated Tree, readers are taken to a new location lit by a moon that gradually ebbs and then wanes, the result of clever die-cuts on almost every page. The illustrations are clearly this work's heart and soul--indeed, Hegarty, the author of its charming rhymed couplets, receives credit only in a tiny mention in the copyright note. And the illustrations certainly merit close study. Textured brushstrokes and a palette that ranges from basic black to blues and even greens convey the subtle differences of the night sky from place to place, while young readers will delight in finding the many creatures on every page. The final spread brings readers home to safe houses under a large, warm crescent moon, making this a comforting bedtime choice. VERDICT A lovely addition perfect for bedtime and one-on-one sharing.--Sally James, South Hillsborough Elementary School, CA