WHEN MOON FELL DOWN

The Moon has taken many an excursion to Earth in picture books, but never has he had a better time. Having always had only a view from above, Moon is delighted upon landing to learn that horses have knees; then, accompanied by a friendly cow, he sails into a sleeping town to window shop, falls in love with a blinking hotel sign, and dances with his bovine companion until dawn. Brown (Stella’s Dancing Days, p. 178, etc.) depicts Moon as a comfortably dressed, round-headed gent with widely set dot eyes and a contagious smile—a smile that survives even the Farmer’s remonstrance: “ ‘Moon!’ he cried. ‘This isn’t right! / Cow, how dare you roam! / A moon belongs in the sky at night, / And a cow belongs at home.’ ” Maybe so, but Moon is last seen winking and grinning warmly down from the sky, a celestial invitation to share happy memories. (Picture book. 6-8)