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PRESCHOOL
Goodale, E. B.

The Moon Remembers

40 pp. | Clarion | May, 2023 | Trade ISBN 9780358682325 $19.99
(2) PS Goodale blends realism and a touch of fancy to pitch some big ideas to the toddler and preschool crowd. "When a baby is born, the moon is there. The moon remembers." The book begins with the moon smiling down on a peaceful, brown-skinned newborn. Page-turns reveal how the moon watches that baby and other babies as they grow; the moon sees parents, bunnies, crickets, and even dinosaurs as babies and remembers them all. Goodale balances the cuteness of all these babies with illustrations in dark earth tones, framing all this life in nature, outdoors, at night. A blend of monoprint, gouache, watercolor, and collage gives the images rich depth and texture. Delicate lines and shading highlight individual people, animals, leaves, flowers, and blades of grass. The visual suggestion is that life is abundant, but also that even the smallest parts of it are worthy of attention, and "the moon remembers" becomes a soothing refrain. The occasional line speaks more to adults than children ("So, if you look up, wondering who you are"), but grownups need soothing too. The human family depicted here is multiracial, another standout element in this book that will be welcome at bedtime and baby showers.
Reviewer: Adrienne L. Pettinelli | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2023

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