Camille Whitcher

After her Grandma tells her about the Moon Rabbit, Luna falls asleep hoping he will come play with her, and soon he has done just that. Girl and rabbit head off into the magical woods for a nighttime adventure, encountering a firefly gathering around a huge tree, and golden dandelion field in a clearing. As the two watch the starry sky together, Luna becomes sleepy, and the Moon Rabbit brings her home and tucks her into bed...

Apparently inspired by "Asian" folklore, as well as the animated films of Studio Ghibli, Luna and the Moon Rabbit was chosen as the inaugural winner of the Stratford-Salariya Children's Picture Book Prize, given out by The Salariya Book Company and the Stratford-upon-Avon Literary Festival. It's easy to see why, as author/illustrator Camille Whitcher's dreamlike tale and lovely artwork make this an enchanting bedtime book. I liked the fact that the Moon Rabbit's visit is ambiguous - is it part of a dream? does it really happen? - as this lends a feeling of mystery to the entire story. The visuals were beautiful - I think my favorite was the tree surrounded by fireflies - and accentuate the feeling of magic throughout. Recommended to anyone looking for new bedtime picture-books featuring magic and the moon.… (mehr)