The Moon Is a Ball: Stories of Panda & Squirrel
by Ed Franck (Author) Khing Thé (Illustrator)
Join Panda and Squirrel in nine funny, wise and thoughtful stories about the meaning of friendship by two world greats of children's literature. Perfect for emerging readers.
Panda and Squirrel have an unbreakable friendship. They can't live without each other and do everything together: lie on the rocks to look at the moon, take walks, play games. One of their journeys lasts for only two steps, another day they discover a newly hatched duckling. Sometimes they argue but they always make up again. This is a friendship for any day: roaring, quiet, grumbling, snoring...always.
This beautiful hardback storybook, with full-color illustrations throughout, features down-to-earth and warm-hearted friendship stories that reach straight from the soul of one six-year-old to another. Perfect for emerging readers or for reading aloud together, it's a book to read again and again.
Written by Ed Franck, one of Belgium's most important and innovative children's writers, and illustrated by Thé Tjong-Khing, a world-leading illustrator for children, whose many accolades include nomination for the Hans Christian Andersen Award. Translated from the Dutch edition by David Colmer.
Praise for The Moon is a Ball
". . . [C]aptivating text, ideal for reading aloud. . ."--The New York Times
"As Franck models charming rapport and low-stakes companionship, Tjong-Khing's delicate artwork provides nature-filled scenes of glorious suns and a bamboo forest."--Publishers Weekly
"Full of heart and gentle humor, Panda and Squirrel are sure to please." --Booklist
"Striking artwork and sweet, funny stories about friendship make The Moon Is a Ball an amusing addition to the philosophical friends genre, alongside Winnie-the-Pooh and Frog and Toad Are Friends."--Shelf Awareness
"Families who love short, illustrated fiction featuring animals, such as The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Graham or Ulf Nilsson's Detective Gordon series."--Youth Services Book Review
"Enjoyable."--Kirkus Reviews
"[An] upbeat, curiosity-inducing early reader."--Foreword Reviews
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Publishers Weekly
In this mellow chapter book readaloud, likable best buddies Panda and Squirrel argue, philosophize, play, test, and care for one another over the course of nine interlinked short tales that articulate the importance of companionship. In "A Long Journey," the pair take a literally snail-paced approach to adventure, discovering that the life of the mind can transport one just as far as steps on a path. "Dollop" sees the two besties naming their feelings after they care for an abandoned duckling. And "Who Are You?" presents the playfellows grappling with Panda's temporary amnesia after an accident. Throughout, straightforward writing centers the friends' devotion, giving space to expressive dialogue ("I'm never bored when I'm with you") and affectionate acts ("Squirrel puts her paw in Panda's big paw"). As Franck models charming rapport and low-stakes companionship, Tjong-Khing's delicate artwork provides nature-filled scenes of glorious suns and a bamboo forest. Ages 4-10. (Apr.)
Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
"[An] upbeat, curiosity-inducing early reader."—Foreword Reviews
— (3/1/2023 12:00:00 AM)JUV002000 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | General
JUV044000 - Juvenile Fiction | Readers | Intermediate
