WHO STOLE THE MOON?

When the moon fails to appear above his skylight one night, a young boy sets out to find the thief who stole it.

Bertie Brown likes to lie in his bed at night and gaze at the moon. One evening it isn’t visible, so he assumes that it must have been stolen. Bertie apologetically asks a host of animals if they have taken it, but they all say no. He finally comes upon a wise owl that explains that the moon hasn’t vanished; the clouds are hiding it from view. There are plenty of interactive and educational opportunities throughout the book’s 23 pages. Unusual animals are introduced; one screen is viewed through a telescope that moves around the page; ladybugs and fireflies change colors when tapped. Kudos to Gerasimov for creating magical illustrations that are sure to feed fertile imaginations. The developer also deserves significant props for bringing the images to life in subtle but powerful ways. Children may wonder, though, how this dedicated watcher of the skies will never have noticed clouds before. Another weak spot is the bonus “vignettes” that feature eight original songs. The tunes are sincere and pleasant enough, but not particularly well crafted, especially the lyrics, which seem to pander primarily to rhyme and meter. Other bonus features include an arcade-type game, several thematic matching challenges and a host of puzzles.

A solid effort that will please children and parents alike.