A FORT ON THE MOON

Fox and Dodge have been rocketing back and forth to the moon for some time now, but this trip will be special—they will leave a fort behind. However, when the building gets tough, it takes a little wisdom and some “crazy dance moves” from big brother Fox to help get the job done. When the pair proudly arrives home and mom wonders about the odds and ends that have mysteriously disappeared, they share a secret glance and an answer: “outer space.” There’s lots of warm, child-friendly character as the brothers make “moon angels” and use old car seats as a cockpit, but the way the narrative tries to straddle the line between imaginary journey and fantasy isn’t quite successful. With a lengthy, meandering text, it’s too long for little ones who might still believe the moon can be reached by homemade rocket, and older children who can sit through a reading may find the “did it really happen” concept trite. The earnest message that perseverance pays off edges uncomfortably into life-lesson territory. Still, the luscious watercolors that capture snug domestic scenes, the frantic, tumultuous fort-building sequence, and, most especially, the sweeping double-page spreads of the velvety, star-filled night sky are worth a look. The kids are racially ambiguous, with beige skin and dark hair.

Pretty—but hampered by the wordy text.