I have a sun and moon storytime, and I’m all right.
The moon inspires dreamy, quiet, and reflective books; books that are lovely for a quiet parent-child bedtime story, but not always a good fit for a morning storytime. That’s why I was pleased to find Carolyn Curtis’s I Took the Moon for a Walk. While it’s definitely fanciful, there’s enough action to keep the attention of young children. Combined with illustrations (by Alison Jay) that are strong and uncluttered expressions of imagination and discovery, I Took the Moon for a Walk is one that will saunter its way into your sun/moon storytime repertoire.
Jonathan London’s Like Butter on Pancakes follows a young boy through a carefree country day. “First light melts like butter on pancakes, spreads warm and yellow across your pillow.” Sizzling bacon and the whistling of a tea kettle signify a bustling kitchen awaiting hungry risers; after a satisfying breakfast, the young boy romps in hay, canters with the farm animals, and rides his horse until the supper bell rings. It’s the moon’s turn to spread its light across the house, inhabited by sleepy folks tuckered out by a full-day’s work (and play). The bright and expansive illustrations by G. Brian Karas will hold the gaze of your audience, while the bouncy text will appeal to their eyes. This would also be a great selection for a farm storytime.
Peter McCarty’s Moon Plane is another great moon-related read aloud that’s not overly fanciful. A plane catches the eye of a young boy, who imagines all the wonderful places he would fly that plane, including to the moon. He would have a blast moonwalking, but would eventually have to return home to his mother. Although the text is minimal (1-3 sentences per page), the appeal of airplanes, adventure, and the return to security and the familiar will resonate with young audiences. If you’re doing a transportation/airplane storytime, consider this title for that storytime.
Other titles to consider:
Asch, Frank. Happy Birthday, Moon!
Gerstein, Mordicai. The Sun’s Day.
Wildsmith, Brian. What the Moon Saw.
Do you have any additional titles to suggest?
Books Mentioned:
Curtis, Carolyn. I Took the Moon for a Walk. Cambridge, MA: Barefoot Books, 2004.
London, Jonathan. Like Butter on Pancakes. New York: Viking, 1985.
McCarty, Peter. Moon Plane. New York: Henry Holt, 2006.