Moonlight: The Halloween Cat [Library Binding]

Cynthia Rylant (Author), Melissa Sweet (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 14, 2003 | Age Level: 2 and up | Grade Level: P and up

Softly padding through the darkness, Moonlight explores the world on her favorite night, Halloween.

The town and countryside glow with shining stars. The wide yellow moon lights pumpkins, racoons, and children out having fun. . . .

Told in eloquently simple, lyrical words, with dazzling, luminous paintings, Moonlight evokes not just the excitement of Halloween, but something more -- the reassuring warmth and friendliness that is a special part of this special night.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-Told in rhythmic prose that almost purrs when read aloud, this black cat's story enchants with a perfect blend of art and text. On the opening spread, Moonlight waits patiently for readers to catch up with her in a pumpkin patch of vibrant orange. Then, she walks across rolling meadows, along fences, and past hay fields. "Moonlight walks the night. She sees lights going off in the houses. Now only pumpkins will shine." The feline snuggles affectionately on the lap of a man made of straw and watches many splendors of the night, including trick-or-treating children and reflections of stars on a pond. Sweet's acrylic and colored-pencil illustrations bring the feline and the pumpkins to life. Luminously serene blues and greens predominate and harmonize with the cozy, comforting moods and emotions the text evokes. Especially enchanting is the close-up illustration of Moonlight's back as she sits placidly on a tree branch, facing a huge, yellow moon. The varying perspectives throughout the book are bound to keep even the youngest children intrigued.
James K. Irwin, Poplar Creek Main Library, Steamwood, IL
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

PreS-K. Rylant and Sweet offer a black cat's eye view of Halloween night in a gentle dreamscape where pumpkins smile, owls fly, and stars shine. In simple, poetic prose, Rylant tracks the meandering cat's night journey through streets of wildly colorful houses and trick-or-treaters, past ponds, hay stacks, and pumpkin fields: "Moonlight walks the night. / She sees lights going off in the houses. / Now only pumpkins will shine." Sweet's endearingly childlike, color-rich paintings convey an appreciation for the ever-deepening night, effectively contrasting the glow of animal eyes, jack-o'-lanterns, house windows, and moonlight with a dark purple evening sky. A soothing, ghoul-free, utterly noncreepy Halloween picture book for the preschool set. Karin Snelson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Library Binding: 32 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (August 14, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060297123
• ISBN-13: 978-0060297121
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 10.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,881,571 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Sweetest Book!, September 22, 2005

By 

K. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moonlight: The Halloween Cat (Hardcover)

I can' t believe no one has reviewed this! This book is a huge hit in my house. My 3 yr old daughter LOVES it and asks for it year round. I absolutely adore the sweet artwork and cute story (not scary or spooky in the very least). It is about Moonlight, a cat that walks the night on Halloween and sees kids trick-or-treating, sees jack-o-lanterns smiling, peeks in a window to see a dog sleeping in his bed, sees raccoons on a porch, the big white moon in the sky. This book is a well worth every penny and I highly recommend for ages 2-5. Enjoy!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, January 26, 2007

By 

Samantha (MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Moonlight: The Halloween Cat (Hardcover)

My three year old son loves this book. He enjoys having it read to him even though the Halloween season is over. The wording is simple and the pictures are great.

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy words and a delightful story, November 6, 2011

By 

Stephen J. Harrison - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Moonlight: The Halloween Cat (Paperback)

A great book for beginning readers; they will be able to pick out many of the words and with a little help, most of them. The story is easy to follow & the pictures are charming, not at all scary for a Hallowe'en book--perfect for youngsters.