I See the Moon

Gr 2—4—An unidentified narrator beckons readers into the night, telling of the Moon's various phases and showing a number of different animals' nighttime activities. Text and watercolor and ink illustrations depict a rabbit nibbling on grass, an owl about to pounce on a mouse, a beaver building his dam, and a polar bear hunting seals with her cubs. Above, the Moon is shown varyingly in full, half, and crescent shapes, and in eclipse. The tale ends with a view of Earth seen from an astronaut's visit to the Moon. Unfortunately, the natural, monthly progression of the Moon is not followed in a clear manner, and the animals' geographical habitats are not indicated. Most readers will find this mix too confusing as a story and too vague for informational purposes. A final spread provides brief facts about the Moon.—Barbara Elleman, Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA