Monday, October 28, 2024

Happy Book Birthday, Wake Up, Moon! by Lita Judge

 It's time to shout-out another book birthday! This picture book releases tomorrow and comes from one of my favorite picture book authors/illustrators. I'm expecting lots of energy and friendship. Telling by the cover, I'm also looking forward to snow-dreaming.

Let's dive in and see if this read takes us on an adventure!




    WAKE UP, MOON!
by Lita Judge
Atheneum Books
Picture Book
ages 4 to 8


An energetic squirrel isn’t ready to give up on winter fun and go to bed in this cozy picture book about animal friends who spend an unforgettable night romping in the snow!

The snowstorm is over. The stars are out. But one little squirrel is not in bed. He’s having far too much fun building snow animals and gliding and skating on glittering ice with his friends Squirrel, Owl, Fox, and Bear…until drowsy eyes and sleepy yawns begin to slow the animals’ steps. Could it finally be time for Squirrel to turn in for the night?

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON


MY TIDBITS

The excitement of snow beams from every page with a sense of friendship and fun.

As nighttime comes, the snow storm finally stops, and while everyone should be in bed, Squirrel wants to play out in the fresh white world under the stars. So, off Squirrel goes. Of course, it's no fun to play alone, so he does his best to get some friends to join him as they slide and glide all over the place.

The wonder of fresh snow under a starlit sky sets a beautiful scene, which comes across wonderfully in the illustrations. It's a dreamland and invites to fun. It's hard not to want to join Squirrel as he decides to head out and play. Surprisingly, this book isn't about how irritating Squirrel is by waking his friends up, though. Rather, the sleepy friends readily-ish join in. It keeps a positive attitude the whole way through. There is humor, especially in the illustrations, to mix with the abundant energy these friends have. And it rounds up nicely at the end to create a bedtime read, if desired.

The text is relatively short with only a few lines at most on each page. It makes a nice read-aloud or works for those readers who are pretty sure of their words. The atmosphere invites to dreams, and while I missed a page or so in the beginning to show the storm and falling night so as to make it clear how late it was, the atmosphere invites in and holds the enter way through. 

It's a lovely read for the wintery months and is sure to receive the word 'again'.



And here she is...

Lita Judge is the award-winning author and illustrator of many children’s books, including Flight SchoolPenguin Flies Home, Red SledRed HatGood Morning to Me!Born in the WildEven the Smallest Will GrowWhen You Need Wings, and her illustrated young adult novel, Mary’s Monster. She lives with her husband, two cats, and a parrot in New Hampshire. You can visit her online at LitaJudge.com.

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