Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me [Hardcover]

Eric Carle (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 20, 1991 | Age Level: 5 and up

Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me

In this unique and delightful picture book, the story literally unfolds as pages open dramatically, extending both outward and upward. Monica wants the moon to play with, so her Papa sets out to get it for her. It isn't easy to climb all the way up to the moon, but he finally succeeds -- only to find that the moon is too big to carry home! The way in which this problem is solved is a joyful surprise.

Here is a multi-faceted story that appeals to children visually, verbally and emotionally, and which also contains a first lesson in natural history, depicting the eternal cycle of the waxing and waning of the moon. The simple text, just right for reading aloud or for the beginning reader expresses perfectly the purity of a father's love for his child. Small readers will empathize with Monica"s longing for the moon, and will be reassured by her father's willingness to try to make her wish come true. And, on a deeper level, they will recognize that Papa is not merely fulfilling Monica's whim, but is demonstrating to her that even a seemingly unreachable goal can actually be attained. Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me is a book to be re-read many times, and to be treasured for its beauty and its positive message of love and inspiration.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Carle, whose The Very Hungry Caterpillar has been extraordinarily successful, scores again with this stunning picture book, drawn in thick, brilliant brushstrokes of blues and greens and reds that dazzle the eye. Monica wants to play with the moon, but can't reach it, so she asks her father to get it for her. Ingeniously designed with several fold-out pages, the books opens out horizontally to show a very long ladder Papa fetches, opens vertically to show him climbing the ladder above a very high mountain, and unfolds into a huge spread of the full moon, where the ladder has led Papa. But the moon is too big for him to carry, so he waits while it grows smaller, until finally it is the right size to bring home to Monica. She jumps and dances and frolics with it, but it keeps shrinking, until one day it's gone. But not for long: a thin sliver soon appears in the sky, growing larger and becoming full once again. A splendid introduction to the monthly lunar cycle, this is also a wondrous work of art that will stand up to countless readings.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 1 A simple story, briefly told, which revolves around the waxing and waning of the moon. Monica asks Papa to bring her the moon, that she might play with it. By dint of "a very long ladder" and a mountain, Papa reaches the moon, waits until it becomes smaller, and obligingly retrieves it. Of course the moon continues to shrink and soon disappears, but a few nights later Monica sees it once again in the sky, where it begins to grow anew. Many of the pages fold out to double their size, which will delight young listeners but may be awkward for the storyteller during a group experience. Carle's illustrations are up to his usual excellence, bright and uncluttered, with the benignant moon a dominant feature. The flaw here is a weak ending; children are not exactly left hanging, but neither is there a strong sense of conclusion. While this is not a pourquoi tale in the true sense of the word, the changing moon is a familiar subject, and the illustrations have enough merit to attract children. Kathleen Brachmann, Highland Park Public Library, Ill.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 40 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (August 20, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088708026X
• ISBN-13: 978-0887080265
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,921 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #86 in Books > Children's Books > Social Situations > Sleep

More About the Author

Eric Carle is acclaimed and beloved as the creator of brilliantly illustrated and innovatively designed picture books for young children.


Eric was born in Syracuse, New York, in 1929, and moved with his parents to Germany when he was six years old. After graduating from art school, he returned to America, the land of his happiest childhood memories, and found work as a graphic designer.


After seeing an advertisement designed by Eric, respected educator and author, Bill Martin Jr, called to ask him to illustrate a story he had written. Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?, with its distinctive collage style, was the result of their collaboration. This favorite was the beginning of Eric Carle's true career. Soon Eric was writing his own stories, developing a close bond with Ann Beneduce, the founder of Philomel Books, who would be his editor for nearly 40 years. In 1969 they published the celebrated classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which has eaten its way into the hearts of literally millions of children all over the world and has been translated into more than 30 languages. Since this beginning, Eric Carle has illustrated more than seventy books, many best sellers, most of which he also wrote.


The secret of Eric Carle's books' appeal lies in his intuitive understanding of and respect for children, who sense in him instinctively someone who shares their most cherished thoughts and emotions. He says "I believe the passage from home to school is the second biggest trauma of childhood; the first is, of course, being born.
Indeed, in both cases we leave a place of warmth and protection for one that is unknown. The unknown often brings fear with it. In my books I try to counteract this fear, to replace it with a positive message. I believe that children are naturally creative and eager to learn. I want to show them that learning is really both fascinating and fun."


Eric Carle has two grown-up children, a son and a daughter. He and his wife Barbara divide their time between Massachusetts and Florida.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars another beautiful active book from Eric Carle, November 5, 2001

By 

audrey (white mtns) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me (Hardcover)

Author Eric Carle (The Very Lonely Firefly, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Very Busy Spider) excels in creating books that offer children more than words on a page -- he consistently incorporates additional elements (lights, holes(!), textures) that make the books even more interesting to thirsty little minds.

In this book, a smaller portable version of the original, a girl asks her father for the moon. Fold-out pages complement Carle's unique illustrative style as we discover a looooooong ladder that reaches to the moon and back, and a magnificent four-page center spread revealing the full moon in all its glory.

This fantastic tale for young children is sure to delight parents and kids.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An engaging book, January 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me (Hardcover)

My daughter's Kindergarten teacher recommended this book because it seems the kids really take to it. My daughter, who is 4, said it's a really, really funny book. I personally love the large format of the hardback edition, because the foldout ladder after all has to be very big, to reach the moon.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Book. Another Carle Classic!, August 15, 2004

By 

Lily Love (Boston) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me (Classic Board Book) (Board book)

I have 20-month old twins who absolutely adore this book. We got it out from the library and they've wanted me to read it to them every day...many times a day. They love the pictures and how the pages flip up or down. They are facinated with the moon and the stars. They may not exactly understand yet what this book is about, however, it gets them interested in reading. We own many of Eric Carle books and this is one of my (and their)personal favorites. It really is timeless. A great story!

I would be careful letting your really young children play with this one alone since the pages are thin and easily ripped. It is one to read to them and put away after you're done.