Peter and the Moon

Picture book characters who attempt impossible feats (reaching the stars, scaling mountains, finding the ends of rainbows) must sometimes admit defeat, but Peter, the hero of this tale from a French team, not only succeeds in roping the moon as a present for his mother, but also takes a free walk around the world as a bonus. A bumbling translation renders the French original awkward and treacly in English (“This ideal gift from afar/ Can only be found among the stars./ We have only one mother./ The moon is the very least we can offer her!”), but Chauffrey’s paintings compensate; she plays effectively with height and distance, showing disproportionately large grownups, giraffes, and buildings—even the whole world from out in space—making all of these things soft and inviting while conveying their intimidating size from Peter’s perspective. The final scene, in which Peter finds that after sharing out the moon with all his helpers, there’s still enough to give his mother “the prettiest crescent of all,” seems like no more than his due after all the frustration he’s experienced. Ages 7–up. (Mar.)