Hello, Moon

Though the title may nod to classic bedtime fare, Turk (Color the Sky) is up to something different in this volume, highlighting a family who greets the moon nightly, and out of doors, as it undergoes change. A child in a warm, cozy room points at the full moon out a window. It hangs in a wintry, pitch-black sky, its cool, pale blue light contouring the faces of the human duo, who share golden skin and dark curly hair. “Look! The Moon!” says the child. “Should we go say hello?” The parent wraps a scarf around the child’s neck, and they address the orb: “You look so beautiful tonight!” Panels show days passing, and a change: the bottom edge of the sphere is shadowed. “It’s just hiding its face a little,” explains the parent; “Should we go out and say hello?” Over the nights, the moon is whittled away until the dark of the New Moon reveals new wonders. Turk interweaves three elements with skill and care: a slow, thoughtful examination of a commonplace yet miraculous phenomenon; rich language in which to discuss it; and color and texture that capture the infinite reaches of the night sky and the bond shared by a close-knit adult and child. Ages 4–8. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Book Group. (Sept.)