The Moon Keeper

by Zosienka, Zosienka (Illustrator)

Overview

Fall in love with this moving and magical picture book about a sweet, conscientious polar bear, the moon, and the special connection they share.

Illustrated with a classic feel and told with a refreshing voice, The Moon Keeper is a perfect bedtime story with gentle messages about friendship, impermanence, and nature that will appeal to fans of Kitten’s First Full Moon, Rabbit Moon, and Little Bear.

Emile, a very responsible polar bear, has a new job as moon keeper. He spends his evenings making sure the moon has everything it needs to shine its light over the night creatures.

Night after night he keeps watch over the moon—clearing away the clouds and telling the fruit bats to move along when they play too close.

Emile finds the moon nice to talk to in the stillness of the night. But what happens when the moon starts to change and slowly disappears? In a lovely and touching series of small investigations, consultations with neighbors, and a fair amount of worry, he learns that in life, things come and go—and it’s okay.

Zosienka’s debut as author-illustrator is the rare moon-themed picture book that shows the phases of the moon through brilliant childlike storytelling.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062959522
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	03/10/2020
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	636,350
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 11.10(h) x 1.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Zosienka was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Polish and English parents. She studied graphic design at Central Saint Martins in London and went on to a career in stop-motion animation, illustration, and print design. The Moon Keeper is her first picture book as author and illustrator. Visit her at www.zosienka.com.

Zosienka was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Polish and English parents. She studied graphic design at Central Saint Martins in London and went on to a career in stop-motion animation, illustration, and print design. The Moon Keeper is her first picture book as author and illustrator. Visit her at www.zosienka.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ 02/03/2020

Emile, a polar bear, is summoned to “the meeting of the night creatures,” who name him the “new moon keeper”—a job requiring tools such as pliers, a net, crimson string, and a jar of fireflies. In Zosienka’s solo debut, atmospheric gouache and colored pencil illustrations conjure a dreamy world drenched in rich blues and luminous whites, and lend Emile a quiet steadfastness. Climbing a ladder, Emile introduces himself to the resplendent full orb. He shoos away the clouds and fruit bats, and talks to the moon “in the stillness of the night.” When the bear notices the moon shrinking, he offers food (“Have you had enough to eat, Moon?”) and riddling fireflies to no avail. Despairing as the moon turns into the merest sliver, he tells a green bird: “I was supposed to protect it, but I don’t know how to make it stay.” The bird reassures Emile that “things come and go,” and the moon (“a new smile in the sky”) returns anew. A gentle celestial tale that is both a clever introduction to lunar phases and a reassuring meditation on impermanence. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

"In Zosienka’s solo debut, atmospheric gouache and colored pencil illustrations conjure a dreamy world drenched in rich blues and luminous whites, and lend Emile a quiet steadfastness...A gentle celestial tale that is both a clever introduction to lunar phases and a reassuring meditation on impermanence." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“A charming addition to titles exploring the phenomenon of the moon’s phases.” — Kirkus Reviews

"A celebration of the magnificence of the moon and the cyclical nature of the natural world. [...] The book also shares a gentle message about impermanence and offers reassurance to young children who are troubled by separation anxiety, particularly at bedtime.  — Get Kids into Books blog

"A wonderfully whimsical story...Zosienka's delicate gouache and color pencil spreads feature appealing anthropomorphized animals...Should still appeal to little fans of other lunar titles such as Jami Gigot's Mae and the Moon or Eric Carle's classic Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me."  — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

"A celebration of the magnificence of the moon and the cyclical nature of the natural world. [...] The book also shares a gentle message about impermanence and offers reassurance to young children who are troubled by separation anxiety, particularly at bedtime. 

Get Kids into Books blog

01/01/2020

PreS-Gr 1—Emile, a polar bear, is entrusted by a group of other animals to be the new moon keeper (no mention is made of the previous occupant of this job). He gathers numerous supplies and climbs a tall ladder up a sycamore tree where he introduces himself to his new charge. He uses a vacuum cleaner to clear away stray clouds, shoos away some bats, but mostly just talks to the moon. Over several nights, Emile realizes that the moon is getting smaller. Alarmed, the bear tries to cheer it up by telling jokes, but the moon still wanes. Emile tells a passing bird that he's "lost the moon." The bird demonstrates that just because something cannot be observed, it doesn't mean it has disappeared. "Things come and go—you'll see." The next night, the moon reappears and waxes until it becomes full; relieved Emile blows it a kiss. Zosienka's delicate gouache and color pencil spreads feature appealing anthropomorphized animals living in houses but not wearing any clothes. VERDICT A wonderfully whimsical story that would have benefited from additional explanation of moon phases, but one that should still appeal to little fans of other lunar titles such as Jami Gigot's Mae and the Moon or Eric Carle's classic Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me.—Yelena Voysey, formerly at Pickering Educational Library, Boston University

School Library Journal

2019-11-10
Emile, a white bear, is chosen by the village's "night creatures" as the new moon keeper.

He gathers potential tools for the job: a net, a feather duster, a jar of fireflies, and more. He climbs a 93-step ladder into a sycamore tree, introducing himself to the full, luminous moon. Emile performs simple duties, blowing away clouds and shooing fruit bats that fly too close. "There isn't a lot to do, but Emile finds the moon nice to talk to in the stillness of the night." Gradually, Emile notices that the moon's getting smaller. Alarmed, he consults a neighbor and cousin, who confirm his impressions. What to do? He offers food, then releases fireflies to share a riddle. "Emile giggles at the joke and sees that the moon is smiling, too." With the moon thread-thin, a big green bird appears, reassuring Emile: "Things come and go—you'll see." (Sharp kids might observe the bird flying a circuit round the moon, disappearing behind, then emerging from, the orb's shadowed surface.) Through the moonless night, Emile repeats the bird's words until he falls asleep, awakening to a "new smile" that waxes to fill the sky again. Talented illustrator Zosienka's pictures, made with colored pencil and opaque paints, employ inky blue-blacks and warm whites to depict bear, moon, and the night sky.

A charming addition to titles exploring the phenomenon of the moon's phases. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews