Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
If You Were the Moon
Illustrator: Jamie Kim
Nonfiction Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Millbrook Press, 2017 ISBN: 978-1467780094
Many of us, as we look up into the night sky, envy the moon. How nice it would be to just hang there and “do exactly nothing.” The truth of the matter is that the moon does many things, things that many of us don’t even know about.
For example, the moon’s gravity helps to stabilize the Earth as it spins. Without the moon our planet’s wobble would be “wilder” than it is, and this would cause such huge climate changes on Earth that most of life here would be destroyed.
In addition, the moon influences life on Earth because its gravity pulls on our planet, creating high and low tides in our seas and oceans.
The moon plays an important role for some animals. When baby sea turtles hatch out of their nests they instinctively head for the brightest light, which, if there are no buildings around with lights on, is the moonshine on the water. The glow on the ocean helps the turtles to find their way to “their home in the sea.”
For centuries many farmers have used the phases of the moon to help them decide when to plant, weed and harvest their crops, and in some cultures festivals that celebrate the moon are yearly events.
Children will be fascinated to get to know all kinds of moon facts as they read through this book. On every spread a lyrical main text is accompanied by sections of factual text, and throughout the book full page artwork offers a perfect backdrop for the narrative.
