Mitchell on the moon

Siblings Annabelle, Mitchell, Gretchen, and Clark (Clark in the Deep Sea; Gretchen Over the Beach) continue to explore their wild imaginations through creative make-believe as Mitchell saves the moon when it disappears on Halloween and Annabelle ventures to the South Pole on a snowy day. Simple texts and wispy illustrations depict the fantastical, child-minded adventures seamlessly alongside the siblings' real-world relationships. [Review covers the following titles: Annabelle at the South Pole and Mitchell on the Moon.] (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Who will save the moon?Its Halloween night when Gretchen, dressed as a princess, notices that the moon is vanishing. Mitchell, probably her older brother, decides that as the Sorcerer of Space (his costume), it is his job to put things right, and he cant have sidekicks (Too dangerous). Fanciful watercolor-and-acrylic illustrations loaded with detail depict the mighty Mitchell blasting off into space on his moon ladder, blowing up meteors, lassoing the moon, and conquering the Jack OJerks (hungry, flying jack-o-lanterns) with the help of a mysteriously appearing sidekick (readers will have noticed what Mitchell did not: Gretchen has tagged along). With a few magic words (SNIZZLE SCOOT! BLAMMITY BOOT!), Mitchells lightning wand takes care of business, and Gretchen repairs the moon, allowing them to return to their friends, Clark and Annabelle, for pumpkin seeds and trick-or-treating. (Annabelle takes the lead in the simultaneously publishing Annabelle at the South Pole.) The plot is light and fast-paced and captures the feeling of a childs imaginary play; though a bit thin, overall, this is a quick, enjoyable read with plenty of action, bound to appeal to boys and girls alike, particularly when paired with its sister selection. The children have different hair colors but share the same pale skin tone. A rollicking Halloween adventure. (Picture book. 3-6) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.