I Took the Moon for a Walk [Hardcover]

Carolyn Curtis (Author), Alison Jay (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2004 | Age Range: 4 and up

Lyrically written and beautifully illustrated, this memorable moonlight journey will leave all who read it marveling at the serene beauty of the world at night.

Following the magical adventure of a young boy who goes exploring with his friend, the Moon, I Took the Moon for a Walk combines lyrical verse with detailed illustrations, creating a dramatic backdrop for this imaginative journey. Readers can also discover all kinds of facts about the passage of the moon through the sky and its influence on our lives.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3–Curtis's charming rhyme begins, "I took the Moon for a walk last night./It followed behind like a still summer kite,/Though there wasn't a string or a tail in sight/when I took the Moon for a walk." The child's journey continues over a bridge, past a sharp steeple that nearly snags the moon, through a pack of howling dogs, and across the dewy grass. Throughout, the language is fresh and visual: "rust-bellied robins," "neighborhood dogs made a train-whistle choir," "clouds that were fragile as lace." The book ends with two pages of facts about the phases of the moon and some of the animals and plants included in the story. The folk-art-inspired illustrations are a perfect complement to the gentle fantasy. Using oil painted on paper with a crackling varnish, Jay creates a moving, panoramic country landscape in which the pictures tell many stories that children will love to discover–the skinny-legged moon loses a slipper; the neighborhood dogs run out for an evening romp; a gentleman pedals by on a bike, enjoying the still evening. This is a quaint and quiet book worth sharing.–Lee Bock, Glenbrook Elementary School, Pulaski, WI
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

PreS-Gr. 2. As the sun sets and everyone heads indoors, a young boy takes the moon on a stroll around his neighborhood. Curtis' rhyming text is rich with descriptive language and images: "We tiptoed through grass where the nightcrawlers creep / when the rust-bellied robins have all gone to sleep, / And the Moon called the dew so the grass seemed to weep / When I took the Moon for a walk." Jay's surreal, Salvador Dali-like illustrations not only greatly enhance the dreamlike quality of the text but also provide visual images for some of the unfamiliar words and unusual phrasings. The textured cracked-eggshell appearance of the pictures, achieved by applying a crackling varnish over alkyd oil paint, gives the book an aged, fragile look. An ending double-page spread has information about the phases of the moon and nocturnal animals, so kids will know what to look for on their own nighttime adventures. Lauren Peterson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Barefoot Books (March 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841486116
• ISBN-13: 978-1841486116
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #173,529 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Currently our son's favorite August 1, 2004

By John Lacey

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this because I wanted to try something from Barefoot Books, and I wasn't disappointed.

Rhyming books can be tough to read to toddlers, because the flow is lost at a slower pace. We were dubious about this book, but it's our 19 month old's favorite. It's got real animals that we see outside to find (owls, cows, dogs), a playground, and of course, the moon. The good children's books find a way to entertain children and adults (like the nested pictures in Goodnight Moon), and the language, artwork, and paper in this book make it a real treat for all of us.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars fabulous book - you'll read it again and again! August 10, 2004

By Allison Miller

Format:Hardcover

our son loves the moon and LOVES this book. the text is beautifully written - captivating for even a 20-month-old - and the illustrations are equally beautiful. great book for a gift or for a treat for yourself (and your child!).

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful match-up March 28, 2004

By Carol Harris

Format:Hardcover

Parents, longing for a bedtime reading book that is well-written and beautifully illustrated, will find "I Took The Moon for a Walk" a delight. Lyrically written, and with factual information on the moon at the end of the story makes this more than just your ordinary picture book. A great choice for a gift!