wovengold's Full Review: Kate Banks - And If the Moon Could Talk
"Moon. Mmoooooonnn..."
My two-year-old niece, cuddled in my lap, was reaching up towards the big, bright full moon, crooning the magic word almost mournfully in my ear. You see, she was a little frightened at having been woken way after bedtime and hustled outside for the fireworks on the Fourth of July.
The moon, and my arms, were a comfort to her.
More than 10 years later, the image is still vivid. It came rushing back to me when I found And If the Moon Could Talk, a children's book written by Kate Banks and illustrated by Georg Hallensleben. The book's simple text and striking illustrations capture the magic of the moon and the comforts of bedtime.
Night comes, and inside the house a little girl prepares for bed, her favorite stuffed bunny by her side. Outside, the full moon rides high above the house, a witness to nighttime activities the whole world over. The story alternates between the little girl's bedtime routine and what the moon sees -- a village, a desert, a seashore, a lion and her cubs. The contrast between the homely and familiar and the natural and exotic is charming.
Banks' text is poetic, tranquil, her sentences deceptively simple. In few words, she creates a mood of loving reassurance about nighttime.
Somewhere a pair of shoes lies under a chair. A window yawns open. Twilight blazes a trail across the wall.
And if the moon could talk, it would tell of evening stealing through the woods and a lizard scurrying home to supper.
Someone hums quietly. A clock ticks. A light flicks on.
Hallensleben's illustrations remind me of Vincent Van Gogh in style and color... the Van Gogh who painted his bedroom at Arles in bright, rich tones of yellow, green, red. Hallensleben uses rough brushstrokes and daubs of color, and the deep blues, reds, yellows and oranges of his interiors contrast beautifully with the darker greens and blues of his outdoor scenes. The overall effect is magic, a perfect complement to Banks' text.
Papa opens a book and turns the pages. A story unfolds like a banner wandering across the sky.
In the illustration, the little girl and her bunny sit in papa's lap, looking at a picture of camels crossing a night desert. Turn the page, and you'll see a large, more vivid rendering of the storybook's picture.
And if the moon could talk, it would tell of sand blowing across the desert and nomads crouching by the dune.
With each successive shift, the little girl moves closer and closer to bed and sleep, while the moon's visions move farther out into the world. Finally, the two worlds blend in the little girl's dreams.
And If the Moon Could Talk would have been a hit with my niece, and I believe it will help many children calm down and end the day peacefully. I've purchased this for a young friend. Natalie Rose turns one in February, and I know that the book will be over her head now. But I also know that her mom will read it to her, and the poetry of the language and the beauty of the illustrations will capture her attention soon.
And I'm going to have to buy a copy of this for myself.
Evocative text and soothing pictures illuminate interior and exterior nighttime scenes in this beautiful book which shows readers what the moon might ...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.