I learned from a random news tidbit that there will be a total lunar eclipse on March 14 that will be visible in our area in the wee hours of the morning. This sent me down a rabbit hole of finding out about lunar eclipses and the moon in general, which then got me curious to see how children’s books about the moon approached the subject. The moon is so prominent in our night sky that it is easy for even small children to identify and it creates a good starting point for talking with children about space. I found children’s books about the moon ranging from sweet bedtime stories to information-packed, science-rich descriptions of our planet’s only natural satellite. There are plenty of options when looking for a good children’s book about the moon.
Destination: Moon, opens a new window by Seymour Simon
Packed full of photos to bring the story to life, Destination: Moon focuses on the race to the moon. It first describes key characteristics of the moon and then explains the Space Race and how it led to Americans landing on the moon. The preparation of the astronauts is included, as well as descriptions and diagrams of technical challenges faced during the Apollo 11 mission. Several pages are dedicated to the experiences of Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the surface of the moon, and the photos and accompanying descriptions are still fascinating over fifty years later. The larger print and level of vocabulary in this book make it a good fit for children in lower elementary grades.
Hello, Moon, opens a new window by Evan Turk
A mother and her young child have a nightly ritual of greeting the moon each night, and, over time, the curious child notices that the moon seems to be getting smaller. The mother explains that the moon will get smaller and smaller until it disappears completely, then it will get bigger and bigger again. As they go outside each night to say hello to the moon, the dreamy illustrations show them quietly observing the natural world around them. On the night of the new moon the child addresses the moon and says it is ok if it doesn’t feel like shining, then points out all the stars that are twinkling for the moon and says they will all be there to welcome the moon back. This sweet book is perfect for bedtime with preschool-aged children.
The Moon Book, opens a new window by Gail Gibbons
This introductory informational picture book about the moon and its relationship to Earth includes explanations and illustrations of the phases of the moon and how lunar and solar eclipses happen. The text is simple, the vocabulary is limited to make it accessible to young children, and key words are defined. Gibbons’ clear, colorful illustrations are a perfect match for her clear, succinct text, and they work beautifully together.
Max and the Tag-along Moon, opens a new window by Floyd Cooper
Max and his grandfather share some special time together gazing at the moon before Max has to leave for home. As he leaves, Max’s grandfather tells him that the moon will always shine for him. As Max gets in the car and travels home, he keeps the moon in view and is happy to see that no matter how twisty the roads are, or whether they are driving through the countryside or a small town, the moon is always there, just like his grandfather said it would be. When he gets home and snuggles into bed, the glow of the moon lights up his room, bringing happy thoughts of his grandfather to him as he falls asleep.
Darcie Caswell is Director of Youth Services at CRRL. This column originally appeared in The Free Lance-Star newspaper.
