Book Review: The Moon Tonight: Our Moon's Journey Around Earth by Jung Chang-hoon, Jang Ho

The Moon Tonight: Our Moon's Journey Around Earth, written by astronomer Jung Chang-hoon and illustrated by Jang Ho, is a children's nonfiction book translated into English by Paige Morris. Everyone on Earth can look up and marvel at our moon in the night sky. It is an experience we share across cultures and continents. As our closest celestial neighbor, the moon touches on many aspects of our lives and has inspired interest from people across centuries. In The Moon Tonight, you can share that same sense of wonder with your child through the eyes of a father-daughter duo as they learn the science behind the twenty-nine-day lunar cycle and the moon’s four phases: crescent, quarter, full, and new. With age-appropriate and easy-to-follow scientific explanations this picture book offers families a reading experience that is both poetic and educational.

The Moon Tonight: Our Moon's Journey Around Earth is a wonderful book for a young reader to explore alone, or to share with an adult. There is a great deal of information about the moon, its cycles, and how it effects our oceans. I thought the text was straightforward and easy to understand and follow, with no moments of condescension that is sometimes found in nonfiction books for children. Credit for this can go to the author and the translator- since they both had a hand in the English version of the book working as well as it did. I thought the illustrations were lovely and added a great deal to the read. I also loved learning a few new proverbs and lore that relate to the moon. I thought I could remember all my moon facts from my school days when I took astronomy, but this children's book reminded me of information long forgotten and/or taught me a few new things.

Book Review: The Moon: A Beginner’s Guide to Lunar Features and Photography by James Harrop

 

The Moon: A Beginner’s Guide to Lunar Features and Photography by James Harrop is a practical guide aimed at beginners interested in learning about the Moon and how to image our closest satellite neighbor. The book contains the complete photographic process including equipment, settings, capture techniques, stacking and image processing, each of which is vitally important to producing a good image. The information is laid out in a visual and easy-to-understand format so that even the dark art of image processing will not seem quite so daunting. There are many high-quality color photos of the Moon to help you learn about different lunar features and a list of 100 lunar targets identified as a challenge for you to find. All the targets have been captured by the author who provides a brief description of each feature and where it is located on the lunar surface. You will be surprised to discover the fine level of lunar detail which you can see from your back garden and once you start imaging, you will realize there is more to the Moon than meets the eye.

The Moon: A Beginner’s Guide to Lunar Features and Photography is a valuable read and resource for those looking to photograph the moon, and those looking to examine and explore the work involved in getting those photographs. The explanations are well done, and the information was accessible. The equipment, skills, and techniques are well described and the book offers solid insight for those interested in expanding their skill set. I have to admit, I have always been more interested in the images  themselves than the ability to take pictures myself. However, I liked learning about what goes into taking the pictures that have also fascinated me. I think those interested in learning more about the doing, rather than just enjoying their hard work on our behalf, will get the most out of this book. 

Book Review: Storytime Astromouse by Steve Smallman

Storytime Astromouse is a picturebook by Steve Smallman. When Pip the mouse learns that the moon is made of stinky cheese, he has a big idea – he's going to be an Astromouse! Pip makes himself a rocket out of an old funnel and some cardboard, and prepares for take-off. But blasting to the moon is harder than he thought and things don't go quite to plan. On his way home Pip sees a huge reflection of the moon in a pond. The moon has come to him! As he reaches down to break off a piece of stinky cheese, the eyes of a large frog appear and a frightened Pip runs all the way back home. He decides the moon is far to scary for a mouse, and he'd much rather live with his mom instead.

Storytime Astromouse is a sweet picturebook about a mouse wanting to get to the moon, because his mother tells him its made of cheese. He tries a variety of approaches until he discovers the reflection of the moon in a pond, and does not like what he finds. The illustrations are cute, and do a good job of expanding on the story. I would have liked it more if it had not started with the myth about the moon being cheese- but rather the mouse wanted to go to the moon to explore instead of eat. Some science or at least hints of it would have been a nice addition. But, I did like that there is are endpapers to guide a parent or teacher to further discussion. 

Book Review: If You Were the Moon by Laura Purdie Salas, Jaime Kim

If You Were the Moon is a picturebook by Laura Purdie Salas and Jaime Kim. If you were the moon, what would you do? You'd spin like a twilight ballerina and play dodgeball with space rocks! A blend of ideas about what a moon does that is perfect for bedtime reading is paired with information about the real science and facts about the moon.

If You Were the Moon is a lovely book, with illustrations that are detailed and in colors that catch the eye. This book could be approached two ways, and in that way can also grow with your child. On one hand, you could just read the larger print and have a lovely bedtime story, a quick and light read. Thgis text is well shaped for reading aloud, and the illustrations are somehow soothing even with the pops of color and details. The bracketed information offers accessible facts about the moon, that can inspire research or further conversations about science and the moon in particular.  I really liked that there was a glossary and resources for further information and exploration at the end of the book.

I think this book is one that can grow with young readers, can inspire interest and conversations, and will stand up to multiple reads. A win on encouraging science and information seeking, as well as offering a sweetly flowing bedtime story.