How to Reach the Moon

The quiet joy of a relationship with a beloved grandparent is the focus of this quiet tale from Argentinian author Schuff. In generous, soft-edged spreads, Sender (Why Are We Afraid?) shows Abuelo and his grandson Emilio illuminated by lantern light and surrounded by tall, deep green trees. At night, the grandfather tells stories whose titles (“The Adventures of the Mouse-Faced Bird”) appear etched against the night sky. On the night of a full moon, Abuelo bakes in his kitchen, considering the moon’s many faces: “Sometimes I look at the moon and see the face of your abuela.” Inviting Emilio to meet the orb, he leads an adventure that is both true to his words and rooted in the tangible world. On the way home, Abuelo carries a tired Emilio on his shoulders, and the images that arise in Emilio’s mind (“A little monkey riding an elephant. A tiny dwarf dreaming on top of a giant”) show that a storytelling spirit has begun to surface in his grandson, too. Ages up to 8. (Apr.)