long night moon by Cynthia Rylant

Quiet. This book is a very quiet book, one to read snuggled in bed, toes wiggling, hushed voices, nightlight on. The pages are dark, done in sharp blues and deep blacks. The light of the moon reflects off snowy banks and spring flowers. Though birds are flying and raccoons bantering playfully across the pages, I feel calm. Even the tiny clicking of the keys as my fingers graze the keyboard seems a disruption to these quiet nights.

This book is really not what I expected it to be. There are no characters save the moon who changes with each month. In January he is the Stormy Moon, October the Acorn Moon, and finally, the Long Night Moon of December. "This is the faithful moon." And isn't that true? December nights are the deepest, fullest blacks and blues. The Earth seems to hold its breath; the land is hushed, silenced by a blanket of downy snow.

My favorite moon, though, is June's Strawberry Moon. The soft cursive script glows slightly pink, and the light of the fireflies mimics that of the moon. The moon, too, hints soft pink, peeking out from behind the trunk of a large tree. The illustrations are breathtaking. It is definitely one you should pick up and see.