Thank You, Moon

August 15, 2023
A tribute to our only natural satellite, with atmospheric moonlit illustrations of nocturnal creatures. In a series of thank-yous paired with brief notes on nature, Stewart points to the influence of the moon on wildlife--how it helps hunting lions when thinned to a crescent and their grazing prey when full, signals kangaroo rats to hide in the shadows and zooplankton to head for the sea's darker depths when bright, and lights the way for black-headed night monkeys and hatchling leatherback turtles. The moon even triggers coral to spawn. Stewart claims that, in the only known instance of direct lunar influence on a plant's life cycle, the moon stimulates joint pines to exude a sticky sap to draw pollinators when it's full in July. She also invites readers to celebrate the moon's beauty, along with a brown-skinned child who brackets Lanan's shimmering nighttime scenes of wildlife in natural settings, "night after night, // and, sometimes, surprising us in the daytime, too." This quietly appreciative survey is capped with a schematic explanation of lunar phases and further information about the moonlit flora and fauna readers have met earlier. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Lyrical and informative. (bibliography, source list) (Informational picture book. 6-8)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

September 1, 2023

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

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2023
An offstage narrator speaks directly to the moon, expressing thanks for the light it provides, and sometimes doesn't, to the inhabitants of Earth at night. Most animals (and one plant) -- including such land animals as dung beetles and nightjars, and sea creatures, such as zooplankton and corals -- benefit from the brighter phases, when moonlight allows them to see their food or a clear path to safety. Others, including lions and kangaroo rats, benefit from the darker phases, when a lack of light provides cover to sneak up on their prey or hide from their predators. An emotive main text ("Thank you for guiding tiny turtles to the sea") is accompanied by a secondary text where scientific explanations are detailed. The illustrations of moonlit land and seascapes are perfectly matched to both texts, including scientifically accurate representations of light interacting with the environment and changes in the moon across different lunar phases. The art also skillfully contrasts glowing light and tonal variations within darkness to emphasize the beauty of low-light landscapes. At the end of the book, two diagrams present the basics about moon phases and the path of reflected light from sun to moon to Earth. Facts about the featured animals are also included, as are selected sources and a brief bibliography. Danielle J. Ford

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

September 18, 2023
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.

January 1, 2024
An offstage narrator speaks directly to the moon, expressing thanks for the light it provides, and sometimes doesn't, to the inhabitants of Earth at night. Most animals (and one plant) -- including such land animals as dung beetles and nightjars, and sea creatures, such as zooplankton and corals -- benefit from the brighter phases, when moonlight allows them to see their food or a clear path to safety. Others, including lions and kangaroo rats, benefit from the darker phases, when a lack of light provides cover to sneak up on their prey or hide from their predators. An emotive main text ("Thank you for guiding tiny turtles to the sea") is accompanied by a secondary text where scientific explanations are detailed. The illustrations of moonlit land and seascapes are perfectly matched to both texts, including scientifically accurate representations of light interacting with the environment and changes in the moon across different lunar phases. The art also skillfully contrasts glowing light and tonal variations within darkness to emphasize the beauty of low-light landscapes. At the end of the book, two diagrams present the basics about moon phases and the path of reflected light from sun to moon to Earth. Facts about the featured animals are also included, as are selected sources and a brief bibliography.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)