Kirkus Reviews QR Code
WHOSE MOON IS THAT? by Kim Krans

WHOSE MOON IS THAT?

by Kim Krans ; illustrated by Kim Krans

Pub Date: Aug. 1st, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-101-93227-8
Publisher: Random House

The question of who owns the moon elicits a range of verse responses.

One night the “curious cat” asks, “Whose moon is that?” This prompts the tree to claim ownership. But the “bird with a song” proclaims, “The tree is wrong,” and asserts possession. In response, the bear lays its claim. Then the mountain contradicts them all saying, “It’s mine”—which the “starry sky” refutes as “a lie.” The wolf growls its rights, pointing out that “It helps me howl.” Appalled, the ocean replies, “None of this is true,” adding, “It does not belong to you!” Finally, the moon responds and sets the record straight. Presented in rhyme, the cadenced text lends itself to reading aloud, enhanced by luminous, moonlit illustrations. Rendered in inky, dark, swirling watercolors punctuated with bursts of pink, lavender, yellow, and green, the night sky provides abstract background. The moon itself appears as a white sphere stippled with black dots and dominates the double-page spreads, illuminating the forest, mountains, and ocean while evoking a sense of timelessness. In contrast, the cat, bird, bear, and wolf, detailed in fine lines, effectively stand out as black-and-white close-ups, grounding viewers.

A visually awesome celestial exploration.

(Picture book. 3-7)