Review by Booklist Review
Black-and-white renderings of the phases of the moon on the end pages set the mood for this dreamy nighttime exploration. The story begins with a cat gazing upward and wondering, Whose moon is that? Each two-page spread presents a new character from nature explaining its claim on the moon and demonstrating how it sees the moon differently in context to itself. With its branches curling around the luminous moon, a tree says, It's my moon! The starry sky argues that it holds the moon, but a bird, mountain, wolf, bear, and the ocean all make their own arguments. The speakers and the moon are in simple black and white. Krans draws the moon in a pointillist style, while the other figures appear in looser, sketch-like lines. As if moonlit, they stand out from a soft-edged watercolor background, full of bursts of bright color. Eventually, the moon speaks for itself, explaining that it belongs to no one but shines on everyone. Atmospheric artwork, lilting rhymes, and a fable-like structure make this gentle, contemplative story a nice pick for bedtime.--Whitehurst, Lucinda Copyright 2017 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-A curious cat wonders to whom the moon belongs. Many stake a claim on the orb, from a bird, a bear, and a wolf to a tree, a mountain, and the starry sky. In the end, the moon says it shines "for one and all, and none, throughout eternity." Told in the "Alouette" verse form, this is an original tale and a slight departure from Krans's concept books ABC Dream and 123 Dream. Full spreads bring the nocturnal world alive, with the night sky backgrounds in watercolor with a palette that incorporates the magical colors and movement of the aurora borealis. Each spread focuses on one particular subject and its connection with the moon. Krans's signature intricate pen-and-ink illustrations are larger-than-life, such as an image of a bear looking straight at readers, the moon dropping behind her as she says she found the moon first and doesn't "like to share." VERDICT Though much of the story line feels familiar, the art is winsome, and young readers will be enchanted with the enthralling night world that Krans has created. Recommended for general purchase.-Danielle Jones, Multnomah County Library, OR © Copyright 2017. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Horn Book Review
'Whose moon is that?' / asked the curious cat." This question touches off a chain of different responses in rhyme--some amusing, others more ruminative--from a tree, a wolf, the ocean, and other entities all claiming ownership of the moon in vain. Krans surrounds crisp black-and-white line drawings with gorgeous watercolor washes of a night sky highlighted by the moon's brightly colored halo. (c) Copyright 2018. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
The question of who owns the moon elicits a range of verse responses.One night the "curious cat" asks, "Whose moon is that?" This prompts the tree to claim ownership. But the "bird with a song" proclaims, "The tree is wrong," and asserts possession. In response, the bear lays its claim. Then the mountain contradicts them all saying, "It's mine"which the "starry sky" refutes as "a lie." The wolf growls its rights, pointing out that "It helps me howl." Appalled, the ocean replies, "None of this is true," adding, "It does not belong to you!" Finally, the moon responds and sets the record straight. Presented in rhyme, the cadenced text lends itself to reading aloud, enhanced by luminous, moonlit illustrations. Rendered in inky, dark, swirling watercolors punctuated with bursts of pink, lavender, yellow, and green, the night sky provides abstract background. The moon itself appears as a white sphere stippled with black dots and dominates the double-page spreads, illuminating the forest, mountains, and ocean while evoking a sense of timelessness. In contrast, the cat, bird, bear, and wolf, detailed in fine lines, effectively stand out as black-and-white close-ups, grounding viewers. A visually awesome celestial exploration. (Picture book. 3-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
