Book Buzz: Music for Mister Moon
Music for Mister Moon
written by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin Stead
Ages 4-7, Neal Porter Books/Holiday House
Harriet Henry plays the cello… alone. She doesn’t like to play in front of people. She likes to play the cello all by herself when things are quiet in her room. She often travels into a world of her own making, in her imagination, to play the cello.
But when she encounters the moon himself, her natural kindness shines. Through her generous acts of empathy for her new friend, Mister Moon, she becomes aware of her musical talent and how it is a gift to be given freely, without self-consciousness. Even if it means playing in public.
The Caldecott Medal-winning team of Philip and Erin Stead bring us an endearing and surreal story that hits at the heart of everyone who has ever had to perform at a recital. With the shy main character discovering that her talent is a soothing gift, she realizes that her performance can be an offering of healing. The imaginative narrative will take the reader into a convincing journey that is both believable and fantastic all rolled into one thread of storytelling.
Erin Stead’s mono block prints with graphite illustrations portray a simple world that will connect with a youngster. The characters are rendered with much empathy and expression that carry the story along to its fulfilling ending.
Music for Mister Moon will be a wonderful bedtime story to read to toddlers. It will send them off to a simple time and place where a young girl can play her cello for the moon.
