By the Light of the Moon

by Frann Preston-Gannon, Frann Preston-Gannon (Illustrator)

Overview

A lyrical picture book from renowned U.K. artist Frann Preston-Gannon

A little frog is singing to himself in the swamp one night. His song doesn’t seem complete, so he invites other animals to join in. Nothing sounds right until they are joined by the littlest voice in the swamp — that of a tiny firefly. This wonderfully illustrated picture book carries the important message that small voices need to be heard, too.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781536208108
Publisher:	Candlewick Press
Publication date:	09/17/2019
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.80(w) x 11.40(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Frann Preston-Gannon is a London-based illustrator and designer. Her first picture book, The Journey Home,received many awards and honors, including a Kate Greenaway nomination. She is also the creator of Dave’s Caveand Dave’s Rock, as well as the illustrator of Sing a Song of Seasons. She was the first U.K. recipient of a Sendak Fellowship and spent a month learning all she could from renowned illustrator Maurice Sendak.

Editorial Reviews

Boldly colored computer-generated collage illustrations and rhythm and repetition that encourage audience participation will make this a storytime and creative dramatics hit. Readers will be tempted to sing along as frog creates the song of the swamp.
—Kirkus Reviews

In a cumulative rhyme, the narrative continues alongside enchanting, dreamlike single- and double-page images that are bathed in moonlight blues. By the end of the story, “everyone knew that the song of the swamp/needed everyone’s voice to sound best.” An excellent choice for a swamp animal–themed storytime. Recommended for purchase.
—School Library Journal Online

From the Publisher

08/30/2019

PreS-Gr 1-Sitting alone on a lily pad one moonlit evening, a little frog finds himself wishing for company in his nighttime song. The frog meets other swamp animals and asks them to sing along with his tune. After a friendly crocodile, mice, fish, and birds join in, he encounters a quiet firefly who believes that her voice is not strong enough to join in—until the little frog encourages her, "Your song is unique/and important, like all of the rest./Even small voices count, so let's hear yours—/only you can sing your song best." In a cumulative rhyme, the narrative continues alongside enchanting, dreamlike single- and double-page images that are bathed in moonlight blues. By the end of the story, "everyone knew that the song of the swamp/needed everyone's voice to sound best." VERDICT An excellent choice for a swamp animal-themed storytime. Recommended for purchase.-Brianne Colombo, Fairfield Free Public Library, NJ

School Library Journal

2019-06-10
What goes into the song of the swamp?

Frog is discouraged. His voice is too quiet, and singing alone is no fun, but he doesn't feel sorry for himself. Instead, he leaps over lily pads in search of others to join his song. An ensemble cast assembles, and a cumulative refrain builds as a crocodile adds his drumming and humming; mice contribute more vocals, a flute, and a gong; "fish "[add] their voice to the flow"; and long-legged wading birds sing along. But even with all these performers, something is wrong. That's when the frog sees "a shy little bug / not adding her song to the night" and encourages her to join in. When she does, "she bizzed and she buzzed to the beat of the swamp, / and she lit up the night like a star." By this time, it's clear that "everyone knew that the song of the swamp / needed everyone's voice to sound best." The story's message is explicitly stated but feels like a fitting final thought rather than a lesson to be learned. Boldly colored computer-generated collage illustrations and rhythm and repetition that encourage audience participation will make this a storytime and creative dramatics hit.

Readers will be tempted to sing along as frog creates the song of the swamp. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews