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BY THE LIGHT OF THE CAPTURED MOON by Julian Scheer

BY THE LIGHT OF THE CAPTURED MOON

by Julian Scheer & illustrated by Ronald Himler

Pub Date: March 15th, 2001
ISBN: 0-8234-1624-0
Publisher: Holiday House

Ten-year-old Billy is disappointed that summer is about to end. School begins tomorrow and he would like a few more evenings like this. Each night Stuart, Juny Layne, and Mary Frances Bethel walk over from the nearby farm to play a game of catch-the-lightning-bug. Tonight is special, because the games are always the best when the moon is full. Once in for the evening, Billy wishes he could possess the bright moon, keeping it to have when he wants it. He stretches his arms out as far as he can and, indeed, gathers it into his room. But finding no place to hide it, he must return it to the sky. He lifts it to the window and it rolls across the lawn and out of sight. The next day, his father comments on the path that has appeared in their yard, but, before Billy can explain it, his mother chases him out to the school bus. Though he is sure no one will believe him, he is happy there is yet another night when he and his friends can play under the moon’s light. Blue watercolors capture some of the lyricism of the text, heightening the black of the trees in the evening landscape, and contrasting with the illumination of the moon. A quiet, nostalgic, and magical story told in the matter-of-fact way that children who like fantasy will enjoy. (Picture book. 6-8)