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A LULLABY OF THE PHASES OF THE MOON
This imaginative bedtime story celebrates a universal truth—we are all connected by the moon.
Journey around the world, from Yosemite to the Taj Mahal to the coast of Greece, and listen to a conversation between the phases of the moon and its earthbound observers.
Children will marvel at the balance of humility and wonder that is captured by the evolving lunar cycle.
Paired with gorgeous illustrations, the rhythmic cadence of the text will lull young readers to sleep on a whimsical, yet factual, journey!
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WHERE MOONBEAMS FALL
Available as a program for children ages 4 to 8 and for families
By Ann Bausum"I see the moon, and the moon sees me. The moon sees the one who I'd like to see."
The opening lines of this timeless lullaby inspired the lyrical text for Moonbeams, a nonfiction picture book that leads readers on a journey around the globe to see where moonbeams fall. With the book as our guide, audience members visit familiar scenes and glimpse distant panoramas while observing the progression of the moon through its monthly cycle. Program includes a simple, kid- (and adult!)-friendly explanation for the moon's changing appearance. We'll even learn how to sing to the moon. This STEM-oriented program will help youngsters master key terms for the phases of the lunar cycle.
The presentation blends vibrant illustrations by the book's illustrator, Kyung Eun Han, with breathtaking photographs and videos taken from outer space by NASA astronauts and observational equipment.
Length: 25 minutes for program, 10-15 minutes for questions
Technical requirements: LCD projector and projection screen
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"In this stellar introduction to the cycles and transformative process of the moon, the creators' artistic collaboration will delight those not yet old enough to read and enthrall budding scientists and astronomers. Bausum's words pair beautifully with Han's vibrant, whimsical illustrations, which welcome readers to all corners of the globe, from metropolis to yet-untouched nature, from ocean to desert and even outer space, as the moon makes its monthly journey and experiences the predictable changes. The poetic text is a call-and-response between a narrator and the moon, delivered in heroic couplets. While slipping in scientific vocabulary, the gentle language will captivate young minds with the lulling refrain, "I see the moon. Can the moon see me?" The moon responds in the first person, illuminating the audience through information as well as radiant artwork. Back matter will further inspire curious minds with additional information, a cycle chart, and a glossary. Fans of Natalia and Lauren O'Hara or Oliver Jeffers will marvel at this confluence of visual art, science, and poetry."
—Booklist
August 25, 2020"This quiet bedtime picture book follows the lunar cycle's phases through a rhythmic conversation between an unnamed narrator and the moon. The refrain, "I see the moon. Can the moon see me?/ Tell me…moon, what do you see?" is followed by a quatrain reply that describes the moon's phase and a scene it surveys. In Han's expansive gradient digital spreads, simple figures appear in landscapes across the world…the soft illustrations shine. Back matter includes in-depth explanations via a glossary, list of moon phases, and an author's note."
—Publishers Weekly"Based loosely on the lullaby that begins, "I see the moon, and the moon sees me," this book takes young readers on a journey around the world while following the phases of the moon. From the plains of Mongolia to the Taj Mahal in India to a ship on an unnamed sea, the rhyming text simultaneously describes the status of the moon and the people and places it shines over. The words are a dialogue, alternating between a child asking the moon a question and the moon's answers. Each call-and-response pairing is presented on a separate double-page spread and is accompanied by illustrations that show the moon phase described….Where the book truly shines is in its visuals: Han masterfully uses a rich, dark palette to create pictures full of depth and life; in particular, the book's two wordless spreads use light brilliantly. The illustrations include characters with a variety of hair textures and skin tones. The backmatter…is well written and fascinating for young readers."
—Kirkus Reviews
May 15, 2020 -
Websites
Lunar Orbit around Earth
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Scientific Visualization Studio videoMoon Crossing from a Million Miles Away
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center video
Illustrated with Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) images"Moonlight"
"Clair de Lune" by Claude Debussy
Performance by Timothy Michael Hammond, distributed by Killer Tracks
NASA Scientific Visualization Studio video
Illustrated with Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) images of the lunar landscapeNASA Science—Solar System Exploration
Introduces the workings of the solar systemNASA Science—Earth's Moon
Explains the phases of the moon, corrects common misunderstandings, and moreOur World: Moon Phases
Educational video from NASA's K-5 resourcesWaxing and Waning
NASA Scientific Visualization Studio video
Illustrates the cycle of lunar phases as photographed at hourly intervalsYearlong View of the Phases of the Moon
NASA Scientific Visualization Studio videoBooks
Gibbons, Gail. The Moon Book. New York: Holiday House, 1997.An introduction to moon science for children ages 4 to 8.
Johnson, Katherine. Reaching for the Moon: The Autobiography of NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2019.Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Katherine Johnson recounts her work as a NASA mathematician in this autobiography for ages 10 and up.
Shetterly, Margot Lee. Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race. New York: HarperCollins, 2018.The author behind the Hollywood film with this title shares the same story for children ages 4 to 8.
Shetterly, Margot Lee. Hidden Figures Young Readers' Edition. New York: HarperCollins, 2016. This youth edition of the adult title is suitable for readers ages 8 to 12.
Simon, Seymour. The Moon. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2003 (revised edition).A photo-illustrated guide to the moon for ages 7 to 11.
Simon, Seymour. Destination: Moon. New York: HarperCollins, 2019.The story of the first landing on the moon in 1969 by Apollo 11, for ages 6 to 10.
Thimmesh, Catherine. Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2015.The history behind the 1969 moon landing for children ages 10 to 12.
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• Moonbeams: A Lullaby of the Phases of the Moon
• Publication date: June 23, 2020
• little bee books
• $17.99
• 40 Pages, hardcover
• Ages 4 to 8
• Grades preschool to 3
• Illustrated by Kyung Eun Han
• Back matter includes a brief essay about the moon, glossary, illustrated chart of the phases of the lunar cycle, online resources, recommended titles for further reading, and a note from the author.
• ISBN 978-1-4998-1033-2
• Reinforced binding
