Review by Booklist Review
Stella has been hoping for a new friend to move into the house next door, and she gets her wish when the "FOR SALE" sign comes down and the Moon moves in! But even as the Moon transforms the yard with a love of gardening, Stella worries that if Moon stays on the ground, all the creatures that depend on its glow will be in big trouble. But does she really want her new friend to return to the sky? Sánchez's beautiful illustrations offers equally lush, dreamy renderings of both the Moon's blooming garden and the starry night sky. The story is multifaceted, with important lessons on friendship, sacrifice, and belonging, especially as Moon realizes how much the Earth relies on its light. Young readers with an interest in science will be delighted by the lunar facts that bookend the tale. Perfect for fans of Frank Asch's classic Happy Birthday, Moon, The Moon Moved In is sure to become a favorite bedtime story.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Soltis brings a playfully serious sensibility to this whimsical tale about the chaos that ensues after the moon takes up residence on Earth. Young Stella, portrayed with dark hair and pale skin, longs for a playmate to move in next door; when the moon arrives in search of space to garden, the pair strike up a neighborly friendship. After planetary problems multiply, though, Stella raises the possibility that her celestial friend should return home, highlighting the plights of sea snails, doodlebugs, and dung beetles all left adrift without the orb. Saturated coloring and chalk-like markings lend Sànchez's digital renderings an otherworldly vibrancy. Persuaded of its relevance, the lunar protagonist again climbs aloft, leaving behind a garden that eventually attracts a more down-to-earth pal for Stella, making for a conclusion that cleverly underscores the moon as an essential partner to Earth. Facts conclude. Ages 3--5. (July)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 4--An adorable, funny, educational, and gorgeously illustrated picture book that will have teachers and children over the moon. This clever story posits what would happen if the moon took a vacation to move in next door to the lonely Stella. The two strike up a friendship that often finds them out in the garden, where the Moon loves tending to its plants. However, the Moon's absence has serious consequences for the natural world, and it's up to Stella to convince it to return to its rightful place in the sky. In lush, detailed, and whimsical illustrations, the book delivers a strong dose of fun and facts about the importance of the moon to Earth's tides, plants, and animals. VERDICT Perfect for a bedtime story or as a companion to a unit on the moon, this book is a must-purchase.--Maria Bohan
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Yearning for a playmate to move into the empty house next door, Stella doesn't miss a beat when the Moon takes up residence. The youngster ventures into the adjacent yard, greeting the celestial being, whose color (blue or white) and shape (spherical or crescent) vary with the setting. Stella's sensitive approach encourages the orb to admit to feelings of loneliness and boredom in the sky; the Moon also longs to plant things. When Stella points out that the Moon has a neighbor now, the Moon beams. The beautifully paced narrative contains the specificity, restraint, and humor that make for a truly great picture-book read. Textured digital compositions create changing moods as they move from starlit, inky night scenes to progressively more colorful, cheerful images of the Moon's burgeoning garden. Black endpapers foreground classical topographical views of the moon, along with facts that underscore the unfolding plot. People and the natural world are affected by the Moon's absence, so tides aren't moving, the Earth is wobbling, and midnight cruises have been canceled. The Moon is unperturbed, but as the orb's role in nature becomes clearer, the Moon relents and returns home. A girl Stella's age eventually moves in, and friendship blossoms, even as there are subtle, welcomed signals of the Moon's nearness. Stella is tan-skinned and dark-haired; her new friend is pale-skinned and red-haired. A lovely foray into a world of mystery and beauty, longing and delight.(Picture book. 4-7) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
