Moon

Moon has purple skin, long black hair, and a daunting list of responsibilities--soccer practice, trumpet lessons, etc. She wants more ("To run. To yell. To be wild"), and a nighttime visit from a wolf answers her yearning. The wolf leads Moon to its pack, and they show her "the wolfy ways." Vignettes in a nocturnal palette of black, purple, and green show Moon blissfully howling with the pack under a sliver of waning moon, then entering into tranquil waiting: "The chirping of the insects seemed to grow quiet. The ocean of stars felt not so far away." Moon returns to her old life transformed, and the freedom she's tasted spreads to her friends; in the final spread, they all wear garlands of flowers. In her debut as author, Oliver (illustrator of the BabyLit board book series) handles her story's pacing with skill, setting up just enough backstory to establish Moon's frustration, then lavishing attention on her midnight encounter. Plenty of stories assure readers that nature is worth exploring; this one suggests that it has the power to change them. Ages 4-7. Agent: Susan Hawk, Upstart Crow Literary. (Apr.)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

PreS-Gr 2--Moon is a young girl with a highly relatable problem. She attends school, does her homework, cleans her room, goes to soccer practice, takes trumpet lessons, and works with her math tutor. There is always so much that Moon has to do. She wonders what it would be like to live free, unburdened from her "Stuff to Do" list. Late one night, Moon encounters a friendly wolf outside in the garden. Wolf gives her a ride to a clearing in the Great Forest, where the wolf's pack welcomes her. The pack teaches Moon their "wolfy ways"--to pounce, to play, to howl, and to be truly still. Naturally, Moon must eventually return to her ordinary daily routine, but she is changed by her experience. Moon takes her wild, wolfy ways to school with her, appearing to have taught classmates to howl and pounce with a smile on her face. Simple and charming, this story reminds readers that time spent on unstructured play, on meditation, or out in nature is never wasted. Rather, these events refresh us all so that we can tackle our daily "Stuff to Do" lists. The bold, collage-style illustrations will mesmerize children. Especially striking is the contrast between the night-darkened forest and lavender-skinned Moon, attired in a white dress, frolicking joyfully with white-gray wolves. VERDICT An upbeat and howling-good read-aloud, perfect for one-on-one and storytime sharing. Recommended for purchase.--Sara White, Seminole County Public Library, Casselberry, FL

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

"Convincingly and sweetly told, Moon's story is a striking authorial debut from illustrator Oliver."—Kirkus, review

"A paean to Where the Wild Things Are that reminds readers of the importance of play and of stillness in a busy world."—Booklist, review

"In her debut as author, Oliver (illustrator of the BabyLit board book series) handles her story's pacing with skill, setting up just enough backstory to establish Moon's frustration, then lavishing attention on her midnight encounter."—Publishers Weekly

"An upbeat and howling-good read-aloud."—School Library Journal