The Moon Saw It All

by Nancy Young, Nadia Komorova (Illustrations)

Ever wonder what animals do after dark? They dance the night away at a critter ball thrown for one and all! Children revel in a dreamy moonlit world where bobcats sing soulful songs, javelina click hooves on tortoise shell roofs and coatimundis drum right along at a critter ball thrown for one and all in Nancy L. Young's picture book, The Moon Saw It All. I wanted to create a magical world that stimulates children's senses and imaginations, says Young. And even though it is pure fantasy, it fills their heads with positive messages of friendship and an appreciation for nature. Even very young children can experience stress these days or become overstimulated by the days' activities, adds Linda F. Radke of Five Star Publications, Inc., who was a special education instructor before going into the publishing business. Reading The Moon Saw It All before bedtime or naps can have a calming effect, helping children relax and drift off into a safe slumber, filled with music, dance and a celebration of nature. Having relocated to Arizona from New Mexico as a child in 1950 and living most of her life in the Grand Canyon State, Young is what locals affectionately refer to as a semi-native Arizonan. She has called several Arizona cities and towns home including Tucson, Phoenix, the copper mining town of Hayden and Payson. She currently resides in Aravaipa Canyon next to Aravaipa Creek with her husband of 43 years. Although The Moon Saw It All is her first children's book, it's not the first time Young's work has been published. Her childhood poems, The Arizona Desert, It's Springtime in this Country and A lonely Shepherd's Tale were all printed in the Durango newspaper.

39 pages, Paperback

First published August 13, 2013

About the author

Writing poetry has been Nancy Lee Young’s lifelong passion, and her poems continue to reflect her love of nature and wildlife. Although The Moon Saw It All is her first children’s book, it’s not the first time her work has been published. Her childhood poems, The Arizona Desert, It's Springtime in this Country, and A Lonely Shepherd’s Tale were edited by Milford Shields, Poet Laureate of Colorado, and appeared in the Singing San Juan column of the Durango-Cortez Herald.

Born in New Mexico, Young spent most of her childhood in Tucson, Arizona. When she was 4 years old, her father became curator of large mammals at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Trailside Museum – now known as the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Infant animals were frequently brought into the family’s home to be cared for, trained, and tamed to go on display at the museum. Nancy and her sister and brother helped care for the animals, which included a mountain lion cub named Elsie, baby bobcats, raccoons, a Mexican wolf pup, a badger, reptiles, birds, and more. Young’s proximity to the museum’s wildlife quite likely planted the seed for her early appreciation for animals.

Living most of her life in the Grand Canyon State, Young is what locals affectionately refer to as a “semi-native” Arizonan. In addition to Tucson, she has called several other Arizona towns and cities home, and she and her husband now live beside Aravaipa Creek in beautiful Aravaipa Canyon – a magical place that inspired her to write The Moon Saw It All. In addition to writing poetry, Young enjoys bird watching, hiking, gardening, and tutoring her granddaughters, which includes teaching them how to appreciate and respect all things of nature.

Reviews

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Moon Saw it All is a super cute tale about what animals do after the sun goes down, when everyone else is sleeping. They dance and sing, howl and prance, and have a great time socializing with other animals. The illustrations are stunning! I am always impressed by Nadia Komorova's work. Having pictures that are vivid and eye-catching in a children's book is crucial, as anyone with children knows. I think I was actually a bit distracted by how beautiful the pictures are, as I stumbled a few times during the reading. Ha!

The highest recommendation from us for kids ages 4 to 8.


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[Brittany Burslem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written and beautifully illustrated. A darling story about the animals of the forest singing and dancing after dark. Reads like a poem, the perfect bed time story!

*I won this book in a goodreads first reads giveaway

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In June of 2013, I was looking for a birthday present for a two-year-old little boy who loves books. With so many traditional books on the market, I was looking for something exceptional and that would capture a child's heart in a special way. When I came across an article about "The Moon Saw It All" with its cover design and description, I immediately knew this was the book I was looking for. With the publication date set for the middle of August, I wrote to the publisher to ask if they would consider selling me a copy of the book earlier than the release date. Fortunately for me, I was able to purchase the book in time for the July 4th little boy's birthday party. When the birthday boy unwrapped his gift, he asked his mother to read the book to him right in the middle of the party. This book is more than beautiful. With incredible illustrations and a narrative that takes you to a place not known by many, you will find yourself in the desert with unusual creatures under a captivating moon. I have a copy of this book signed by Nancy Young and I cherish it to this day.