  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 11/01/2013 This is a variant of a pourquoi tale, with restoration instead of creation at its center. Bear blames the moonlight for his sleepless nights, so he steals it, leaving the other animals with a sense of loss. The story builds as one by one the animals ask each other for information and ultimately seek out Owl. Their search for answers, and then the moon itself, is the perfect device for turning the page. The soft watercolor-and-pencil illustrations, many within their own frame, mirror the text’s gentleness. When the animals talk with one another, they move more freely on pages with a white background. The repetition of simple phrases encourages a young reader’s participation. Storytelling and dancing conclude the story, an inclusive and positive ending. Pair with Kitten’s First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes (2004) for another moon celebration. - Copyright 2013 Booklist. School Library Journal - 11/01/2013 PreS-K—The moon looms large in children's literature: Frank Asch, Eric Carle, Kevin Henkes, and countless others have paid homage to that fascinating round face in the night sky. In Come Back, Moon, Kherdian and Hogrogian have collaborated on an original story that has the simplicity and resonance of a folktale. Bear is stretched out uncomfortably, head in hand, as a smiling golden moon floats over the blue night and the just-perceptible forest. The accompanying text is refreshingly direct: "Bear couldn't sleep and blamed the light of the moon. So Bear stole the moon." Fox, Skunk, Opossum, Raccoon, and Crow are on the case, consulting wise Owl and using their particular skills to effect a rescue. Hogrogian captures the character of each animal, mood, and scene with disarming expertise. Readers know that it's night, but the darkness has many colors. The brilliant orange of the fox and the dramatic patterning of the skunk add extra contrast to every page. Even the opossum is endearingly drawn. Kherdian is at his poetic best, gracing the tale with few, carefully chosen words. The artwork is beautifully balanced and radiates personality. The combination of great talent, elegant restraint, and exceptional creative decisions has produced a timeless book that will still be enjoyed by the great grandchildren of those who read it today.—Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY - Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Bulletin for the Center... - 12/01/2013 The moon makes it too bright for Bear to sleep, so he steals the lighted sphere from the sky and hides it in a bag. The other animals-Fox, Crow, Skunk, Opossum, and Raccoon-wonder what has happened and seek out wise Owl for answers. Owl tells the critters about Bear’s theft, and the animals head off to Bear’s den to retrieve the moon. While Crow puts Bear to sleep by telling him a story, Fox sneaks the moon out of Bear’s bag and sets it back in the sky. The animals rejoice at the return of the moon-“All except Bear, who was happily sound asleep.” This simple, folkloric story will easily engage young audiences, and Kherdian’s restrained prose works well as both a group readaloud and as a read-alone for novice readers. The theme makes it a fine partner for other moon-related folktales, such as McDermott’s Anansi the Spider (BCCB 7/72), as well. Unfortunately, Hogrogian’s watercolor and pencil illustrations are not quite up to par with the text, lacking the snap and vividness of her similarly set, Caldecott-winning One Fine Day (BCCB 11/71). While the subdued colors evoke the nighttime woodland setting, the compositions are somewhat muddy and the drafting often stiff and uncertain. The story is still effective, though, and it might especially work well as a beginning readers’ theater piece. JH - Copyright 2013 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. Loading...
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