WHEN THE MOON IS HIGH

Teary eyes and a pouting lip encourage Daddy to scoop up a restless baby and take him on a soothing walk through the night. Snuggled warm in slippers, father and son embark on a nature walk full of exploration and discovery. “Who’s that pocket peeking, / hide-and-seeking when the moon is high?” The following page offers a better look at the hidden night creature, a mouse. The journey continues as the pair identifies an owl riding high in the sky; a raccoon munching berries in a thicket; and a cat floating through the shadows. A skunk, a dog, and a ’possum round out the night visitors, leaving the duo with many exciting things to see and a list of tongue-tying poems to repeat. “Dog out prowling, / snooping, howling? / Cat all flowing, / two eyes glowing? / Skunk out nightly, / black and whitely? / Possum munching, / midnight lunching?” This guess-who poem has served to tire the sleepy baby and Daddy returns his son to bed to sleep under his moon mobile in the light of the actual full moon shining through his window. Softly smudged and shaded illustrations focus on the snuggly child and the wonderful creatures enjoying the moonlit night. (Picture book. 3-5)