Thank You, Moon: Celebrating Nature's Nightlight

K-Gr 3--A beautiful blue-gray luminescent moon opens this gentle lunar celebration. The book offers several ways to enjoy the content. The left side of every spread is a journey through the phases and influences of the moon while navigating different environments of the earth. On the right, in smaller print and at a higher reading level, is more detailed information pertaining to that page. Many types of biomes are visited above ground, in the air, and below the ocean through the lens of an animal or plant affected by the moon. The lush watercolor illustrations are rich with nighttime details with the moon always clearly present. A young, dark-skinned girl graces the cover, then is seen once early on and with her dad and dog toward the end of the book. The implication is that they are thankful for the moon. Their presence is welcome though muted. Additional content covers the phases of the moon and more details on each animal and plant that appear in the text. VERDICT Recommended for larger collections in need of STEAM titles about the moon for younger readers.--Elisabeth LeBris

On the verso pages of this picture book, Stewart catalogs in reverent prose how Earth's moon influences creatures and plants, helping them to survive and flourish. Scientifically oriented recto lines further explain. Alongside "Thank you, Moon, / for being Earth's constant companion in space// and making life on/ our planet possible," an amplified section reveals that the moon's gravity stabilizes Earth in its rotation, keeping it from temperature extremes that would make life impossible. Lanan's watercolor and colored pencil spreads provide dramatic close-up glimpses of the species described: moonlight guides leatherback turtle hatchlings to the ocean, influences spawn times for coral as well as pollen release for joint pines, and serves as a signal ("Thank you for warning/ zooplankton to dive deep"). This poetic look at the varied effects of moonlight draws science-minded attention to a phenomenon more often praised for its beauty than its utility. Extensive back matter concludes. Ages 3-7. (Oct.)