Max and the Tag-Along Moon

by Floyd Cooper

Has the moon ever followed you home at night?

Max loves his grandpa. When they must say good-bye after a visit, Grandpa reminds Max that the moon above them at Grandpa’s house is the same moon that will follow him all the way home. And on that swervy-curvy car ride back home Max smiles as the moon tags along, thinking of Grandpa. But when the sky darkens and the moon disappears behind clouds, Max worries that it did not follow him home after all. Yet when the clouds part and light streams through his window, he realizes that Grandpa was right—the moon was with him all along.Floyd Cooper received the Coretta Scott King Award for The Blacker the Berry, two Coretta Scott King Honors for Honey in Broomwheat Tea and I Have Heard of a Land, and an NAACP image award. His books have also been named to numerous best books list and been given many Parents Choice Awards.  In Max and the Tag-Along Moon, his lush paintings perfectly capture the wonder of the moon, the love between grandfather and grandson, and that feeling of magic every child experiences when the moon follows him home.

 

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Fiction, African American, Storytime, Love

32 pages, Hardcover

First published June 13, 2013

About the author

Floyd Cooper was an American children's book illustrator and author who focused on Black history. He received a Coretta Scott King Award for his illustrations in Joyce Carol Thomas' The Blacker the Berry. He also received several Coretta Scott King Honors for his illustrations.

Reviews

[Christina Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even in the picture book format, I seldom get the chance to read a book centered around a Black boy. And this little boy is filled with awe over the light of the moon. A moon that appears to be following him home. You can see the wonder in his eyes. You can see the love that lives there too for his grandpa. The beauty of their relationship is just as bright as the light of the moon and you'll see that full well in each of Floyd Cooper's illustrations.

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute story and love the illustrations. :)

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A warm, gentle, comforting story.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grabbed this as a break from the very adult, not short, book I’m reading now.

What a delight! I can identify with this and I bet most of us can! Max gets a promise from Grandpa that the full moon will follow him home and shine at his house as well as at Grandpa’s house. Max watches that moon all the way home until clouds intervene. Was Grandpa wrong about that moon? Does that mean Grandpa’s love is iffy too? Read and find out! What a delightful book! I suppose the ending is obvious but I STILL loved it! Thanks to June Krell who I’m pretty certain recommended this title!

[Lizzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite part is Max's surprise face- it is so cute and so accurate.

[Dinah Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve never met a kid that didn’t wonder why the moon was following them while they rode in the car at night. Also, grandpas are probably the best people on earth.

[Jess Combs · Rating 5 out of 5]

The kids loved this book so much that for the first time ever, they applauded after I finished reading and kept asking "again? Again? "

[Jazmine · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the artwork and sentiment of this book is fantastic- Max knows he can look at the moon that always shines whenever he misses Grandpa - I felt that this book was "too old" vocabulary wise for my 3 year old.

We got this through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. ❤

[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-paced storytime read recounting Max's drive home from visiting his granpa. Promised by his granpa that the moon would always watch over him, Max attentively watches as the moon travels through the sky with him during the drive home, reminding him of his granpa and making him feel safe.

[Melki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This brought back warm memories of riding home with my parents at night, watching the moon through the car windows. It was a nice enough story, but I can't imagine a child wanting to hear this one again and again.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Max watches the moon as it appears to follow him home from his grandfather's house.

At the end of his visit, Max and his grandfather quietly gaze at the moon together. Max's grandfather tells him, "That ol' moon will always shine for you," and as he returns home, Max is soothed by the continuous presence of the moon as a representation of his grandfather's love.

This is a reassuring story about how the love of a caregiver / family member will always remain with a child wherever s/he goes. I particularly liked how it defies gender stereotypes and places a man in the caregiving role.

Disclosure: Dolly Parton was kind enough to send our family this book through her Imagination Library Foundation.

[Kate McGinty aka Caryn Caldwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max is sad when it's time to leave "Granpa's" house, but his grandfather reassures Max that the moon will always shine for him as a reminder of his grandfather's love. And, indeed, all the way home along windy, twisty mountain roads Max watches the moon tag along. But a storm comes up just before they arrive, hiding the moon. Max fears that Granpa was wrong about the moon always being there for him, but just as he is about to go to bed he looks out his bedroom window and there it is again, full and bright. Satisfied, Max curls up in bed and falls asleep.

This is a warm, sweet, reassuring story that's perfect for a read-aloud right before bed. The soft yet realistic illustrations complement the text nicely. Max's expressions are realistic, as if he were a real child caught in the act of hugging his grandfather, searching for the missing moon, and marveling at the moonlight out his bedroom window. All in all a quiet but wonderful tale.

[SaraLaLa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was honestly torn between giving this 3 or 4 stars. I rounded up.

Max is a little boy who observes something every child does at one point or another; the moon "follows you" as you travel. I do remember watching the moon as my parents drove me hither and thither. It was wonderful to look for it as we drove around turns and buildings, over bridges and under tunnels, etc. Max experiences this same exact thing, but it also ties in his loving thoughts of his grandfather (I guess to add an extra layer).

There isn't really much of a plot, but it's still an enjoyable read. The pictures are appropriately soft and fuzzy underneath the moon's glow. It could be a worthy bedtime story, especially before/after going on a car ride with your little one.

[Serina · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a nice surprise for a book that features an African American boy. Little boy on ride home watches the moon follow them home. I had very low expectations for this book, but was quite pleasantly surprised by the easy dialogue and the expressions on the little boys face. The illustrations are done in a different artistic style that gives it a soft, night time feel. I also like the connection that the boy made with his grandfather. Not my personal favorite but I feel that it would definitely appeal to minorities. It's rare to find a solid children's book with someone of color.

[Kretesha Cotton]

Text to Self Connection

I remember as a child riding with my parents on road trips watching the moon. I always thought the moon was following us on the trips. When we arrived home the moon was also at my house. I was amazed at that the moon could follow us all way back home. I remember asking my mom about the moon following us. My mom responded by telling me the moon will always be wherever l am.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gentle, sweet book wherein a little boy's grandfather assures him that the moon they enjoyed together will always shine on him, and sure enough, through most of the swervy-curvy car ride home, it does. But nearing home, the moon disappears and he misses grandpa. He's reassured when the moon reemerges from the clouds and his bedroom is bathed in soft light. The illustrations are soothing and soft, and the text is lyrical yet simple.

[Carol Gordon Ekster · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustrations are beautiful and I love the concept, but I feel the writing could have been tighter. I'm surprised that the editor didn't give a few suggestions to improve this picture book with so many strengths.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm looking forward to reading at story time.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, sweet grandparent/grandson book. I especially like the expressions on Max's face and for some reason that the car the family drives is bright pink. :)

[garfunkelgrass · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son loved this book, especially hearing Dolly read it. Such a sweet, sweet story.

[Abigail Lydon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title (italicize): Max and the Tag-Along Moon
Author: Floyd Cooper
Illustrator (if separate from author):
Genre: Fiction
Theme(s): Metaphoric moon symbolizes a grandparents' love and how that love will always be there.
Opening line/sentence (type directly from text): “One night as Max was leaving grandpa’s house, he reached up to give grandpa a big hug goodbye”
Brief Book Summary (2-3 sentences in your own words): Max watches the moon “follow” his family on their way home from grandpa’s house. His grandpa told him to watch the moon that the moon will always be with him, he feels safe with the mood on his side. In the end, he falls asleep thinking of his grandpa in the moonlight.
Response to Two Professional Reviews (3-4 sentences in your own words): Both Kirkus and Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz describes the importance of the car scene, this is a scene that many young children can relate to because many do believe that the moon follows them as they travel. Kirkus discusses how the illustrations and colors used to emphasize the brightness that the moon/ grandpa provides. The reviewers agree that this story is very endearing and relatable for young children.
Tell Me Framework (4 sentences in your own words):
Like(s): The love and respect that Max has for his grandpa.
Dislike(s): The small amount of conversation between Max and grandpa.
Patterns(s): The bright yellow, warm light coming from the moon.
Puzzle(s): What does Max think about the sun?
Consideration of Instructional Application (3-4 sentences in your own words): This lesson could be used to introduce some information about the moon. Give children the opportunity to explain what they already know about the moon. Ask questions about the moon in the book and what it represents. Then continue with a class discussion about new information about the moon/ facts.

[Christy Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young boy associates his granpa with the moon and learns a bit about the moon's permanence even as it can be hidden behind clouds at times, but will always return to shine. This was a cute book, but didn't quite hit the same spot on feeling as Cooper's book The Ring Bearer for me. It felt a bit sentimental and a bit concept heavy, but didn't have quite the execution as the first one I read. The pictures were well done, if appropriately a bit muted for a nighttime focused book. My favorite pictures were the ones that were almost portrait like,full page close-ups of Max's face as I get more emotional feel from those.

(repeated phrase from my review of The Ring Bearer: I found this picture book in an article that a Facebook friend recommended on 30 Children's Books featuring black male protagonists (you can read the article here: http://bit.ly/2Wd3X9s). So...you'll be seeing quite a few picture book reviews from me for a while, even though I have no children of my own, but have a strong love for children's literature and picture books in general and like to keep abreast of what new books are on the market for children (to buy for presents, to use in education or religious settings or just to enjoy on my own). When I find books that also broaden the predominant norms and depict characters from a diverse array of racial, ability, gender, religious and ethnic settings (to name just a few traits), all the better.)

[Audrey Spiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book starts out with a boy saying good bye to his grandpa. When he leaves his grandpa tells him that the moon will always shine for him. As Max drives home he sees the moon the whole way, until it is covered by a large cloud. Max knows, however, that the moon will always shine for him, no matter where he is.

A major theme for this would be trust and promises. The grandpa promises that Max will be able to always see the moon, no matter where he goes. However, when the moon goes behind a dark cloud, Max starts to second guess his promise and loses trust in his grandpa. It is a lesson to trust people's promises and trust that they will be true.

5 stars! This book was awesome!

I really enjoyed this book because of the family dynamic and the relationship this boy will make between the moon and his grandpa. He will keep that relationship with him even when his grandpa has passed away. The moon will always be a reminder of someone Max loved so deeply.

I would recommend this book for two reasons. One, being the family dynamic that I discussed above. And the second being the fact that this book involves African-American characters. This book will provide cultural diversity and allow kids to be able to see how love in other cultures is the same. It will show kids of every race/culture that families are the same and they all love the same.

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max and the Tag-Along Moon is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Floyd Cooper, which tells a story about a child named Max, his grandfather, and the moon that seems to follow him home.

The text is simplistic and straightforward, yet captures the curiosity, wonderment, and innocence of a child. The illustrations are beautifully rendered and done in pastels, which gives a dreamy feel to the book. In short, the illustrations complement the text rather well.

The premise of the book is about a child named Max leaving his grandfather's house, but Max doesn't really wants to go, because he will miss him. Together, they see the moon and his grandfather tells Max that the Moon is the same Moon from his house and that it would follow him home. As Max goes home, he watches as the Moon follows him home through twists and turns the Moon was constantly following him. However, when storm clouds covers the Moon, he is saddened and goes to bed only to have his room illuminating again when the Moon reveals itself as the clouds moves away. He sleeps well that night knowing that when he sees the Moon he would think of his grandfather.

All in all, Max and the Tag-Along Moon is a wonderful children's book of family and their connection to the tag-along Moon.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Max and the Tag-Along Moon is an endearing story of a grandpa's promise to his grandson, Max. One night as Max was saying goodbye to his Grandfather he noticed the big glowing moon in the sky. His Grandpa promised that it will always shine for him so during his drive home, he starred up into the night sky and sure enough, the moon was following him. Once Max arrived home the moon tucked behind the clouds so he crawled into bed, missed his grandpa and his tag-along moon. As soon as he started to think that the promise his Grandfather made to him wasn’t true, the glow of the moon came peaking into his room and from that night on, whenever he saw the moon, he thought of his Grandpa. One teaching idea inspired from the book is to read it to younger students who are transitioning to the classroom from their home. As the teacher, you could have a symbolic piece in the classroom that will remind a homesick student of their loved ones so they feel less alone. That being said, this is a very well-rounded picture book that could deliver a very important message to young students who need it.

[Brandi Balzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max and the Tag-Along Moon is about a little boy who loves his Grandpa and getting to see him is his favorite thing. However, when he has to leave his Grandpa he is always sad so hi Grandpa tells him as long as the moon is shining he will always be with him. Max thinks the whole ride home the moon will disappear just like his Grandpa had but it doesn't. As he crawls into bed the moon disappears behind a cloud and Max gets worried that his Grandpa left him and he feels lonely. It is just then that it reappears from behind the cloud and fills his room with light. Max then realizes his grandpa will never really leave him and he is filled with joy. The illustrations are the show stopper of this book. They are watercolor and depict a dimly lit scene transporting the reader into the story.
I rated this book a five. The relationship between the Grandpa and Max is heart warming. The book is a great narrative and is a great read for young readers to realize that even when they can't see there loved ones there still there and they still love them. Also the images are beautiful and captivating.

[Ben Perone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Max and the Tag-Along Moon is a children's picture book written and illustrated by Floyd Cooper. The book is about a small boy named Max who goes to visit his Grandpa. As Max is leaving his Grandpa's house, they share a special bonding moment looking at the beautiful moon in the night sky. As Max and his family drive away, he notices that eventually he can no longer see his Grandpa, but the moon stays in sight. They go through some Dr. Seuss style pages, with the family going through windy roads and cow farms and such, but the moon stays in sight. Eventually, as Max gets home, the moon disappears behind some clouds. When Max can't see the moon any more, he misses his Grandpa. Then, later, the moon reappears out of the clouds, and he thinks of his Grandpa fondly as he falls asleep.

I gave this book five stars because it is a fun little read. It has vibrant illustrations and colors. It also has fun elements of reading with the Dr. Seuss style goofy language. In the end it has a cute lesson as well about how certain objects remind us of important people.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

“That ol’ moon will always shine for me... on and on!” 🌛 | Today’s #readaloud pick: Max and the Tag-Along Moon by Floyd Cooper. Such a sweet story about Max and his Granpa and how the moon always follows you home. One constant I’m sure we can all relate to.

My favourite part in this book has to be the page when Max arrives home. The subtlety of the dandelion lit up in the grass...reminds me of a quotation from Lolita (or if you’ve recently read My Dark Vanessa, it’s referenced there as well) - “Most of the dandelions had changed from suns to moons”, Vladimir Nabokov.

Such beautiful words and illustrations. It’ll make you reminiscent of those long drives home as a kid after visiting extended family. Or if you’ve ever looked up at the moon and wondered if someone special was looking at it, too.

[Christine Turner]

ATA Storytime Kit -- Family

Summary
Max loves his grandpa and Grandpa loves Max. So when Max has to say goodbye to Grandpa at the end of his trip, Grandpa reminds Max that the same moon that is above them at Grandpa's house is the very same moon that will follow him all the way home. On the way home, Max watches as the moon tags along and he thinks about his Grandpa. When the sky darkens and the moon disappears behind the cloud, Max worries that the moon did not follow him home after all. It still hasn't reappeared by the time he gets home and Max feels sad and lonely. Then the cloud parts and the moon appears!

Subject: Grandfathers -- Juvenile fiction
Geographic Term:
Moon -- Juvenile fiction.

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice, calming story for bedtime. A young boy named Max is heading home from his Grandpa’s house. As they say goodbye, his Grandpa points out the moon and tells Max it will always shine for him. Max watches as the moon follows him on his car ride home, and it keeps him company when he heads to bed. There was some nice vocabulary sprinkled throughout this book, just enough to add an extra talking point every few pages. My children and I enjoyed looking at the different shadows created by the full moon since we’ve been learning about shadows this week. The illustrations are my favorite part of the book. They have a softness to them that’s a bit fuzzy and perfectly captures the low glow cast by a full moon.