If You Were the Moon

by Laura Purdie Salas, Jaime Kim (Illustrator)

If you were the moon, what would you do? You'd spin like a twilight ballerina and play dodgeball with space rocks! And more.

Genres: Picture Books, Nonfiction, Science, Space, Childrens, Poetry, Nature

32 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

About the author

Laura Purdie Salas is the author of more than 130 books for kids and teens, including WATER CAN BE... (Millbrook, 2014), A LEAF CAN BE... (Millbrook, 2012), and BOOKSPEAK! POEMS ABOUT BOOKS (Clarion, 2011). She loves to introduce kids to poetry and help them find poems they can relate to, no matter what their age, mood, and personality.

Laura is a thinker, a cupcake and brownie addict, and an adventurer (as long as it doesn't involve skydiving).

Reviews

[Mischenko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Netgalley in exchange for honest review

Beautifully illustrated book about the moon and all the jobs it has. Just how important is the moon? The story is fun, yet full of facts to keep kids engaged.

[Afaf Ammar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helloooooooooo up there, Moon!
If I were you, If I were the moon, I would...
Sing earth a silver lullaby 💙🌝💙



Goodnight moon 💜🌕🌠🌌💜



26.05.2021

[Gary Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little girl reading in bed, on the verge of falling asleep, says hello to the moon and wishes she “could do exactly nothing, just like you.” The moon replies, explaining all the ways it is more active than it seems. The narrative can be read by focusing on the moon’s lyrical replies (“Hover near your mother … Tease the Earth: peek-a-boo!”), but each of the moon’s answers is supported by a more detailed explanation of the science behind it, as well as beliefs about the moon from various cultures. The moon is friendly throughout, both in the text and in the illustrations as it reveals how being the moon is a lot like being a busy youngster.

[Gina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting balance between being poetic and metaphorical about the moon and giving science about it, but the back and forth kept the book from being truly captivating.

[Kristi Starr · Rating 5 out of 5]

An anthropomorphic moon demonstrates the many roles it plays. It steadies Earth, affects tides, inspires the arts, and informs practices and rituals. The book also describes how the moon moves, how its appearance has been impacted (literally!) by other objects in space, and its role in lighting the night sky.

Simple but charming illustrations compliment the content, and a glossary and list of materials for further reading make the book a worthy resource for elementary and middle-grade science teachers.

[Dianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book about all the different things the moon does for us. I also liked the dual nature of the book: it can be a short bedtime story, or you can read the information about the moon for a longer, more educational read. The illustrations are beautiful. Highly recommended!

[fer_reads 🌷 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute book I would have totally read to my kiddos before bedtime! “If You Were the Moon” describes the moon’s function and importance along with beautiful and colorful illustrations that will keep its young readers engaged.

An easy and quick read, perfect for a short bedtime story! 🌙

4 ⭐️

[Marissa Elera · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterful blend of fiction and non-fiction. Really unique.

[Shiloah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A creative way to teach children about the moon. Loved the full color and beautiful illustrations.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

accessible and beautiful

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Moon just sits there, inactive, doing nothing -- or does it? The Moon dances, plays, and hides. The Moon hovers, balances, and enlightens. The Moon keeps time, keeps the seasons, and inspires. Beautiful illustrations, a playful story, and education notes make this a delightful read. Wonderful typography clearly separates the science from the narrative.

*Thank you to NetGalley for a digital ARC to review.*

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really cute non-fiction book that teaches about the moon in a fun way. My grandson loves the moon and always looks for it in the sky. I read this book to him. He loved the illustrations and the fun things the moon does. He did not really understand the fact though. For primary students learning about he moon and solar system, this book briefly tells various facts about the moon relating them to things the moon does. It is easy to understand language. The illustrations are wonderful. They are large, colourful and beautifully done. This would make a great book for a classroom library. There is a glossary as well as further reading suggestions at the back. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

[jess ~has abandoned GR~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

If You Were the Moon combines a simple bedtime story with astronomy by comparing everyday children's activities with facts about the moon and its role. Beautiful illustrations will help hold a child's attention while an adult explains the science to them on each page. Designed for active reading, this would work well for bedtime reading for kindergartners and older, or in a classroom setting.

I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Joanne Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author surprised me with this departure from her latest series. This book uses lyrical language, but not rhyme, to educate about the characteristics of the moon. The story starts with a fanciful exchange between the moon and a child, drawing the reader into the non-fiction content. The illustrations are accurate, but also stylized, making the book even more approachable for reluctant nonfiction readers. Pretty and practical. Contains evolutionary content.

[Katie Dicesare · Rating 5 out of 5]

A conversation between a little girl and the moon about the many things the moon can do...with poetic responses from the moon followed by small bits of real information. Love!!

[Suzanne LaPierre · Rating 4 out of 5]

On one level this is a bedtime story about the moon, but on another it’s an introduction to the science of astronomy. On the left of each page spread is the simple tale of a girl going to bed who chides the moon for “doing exactly nothing.” The moon explains itself in playful analogies, inviting children to imagine the moon’s activities as if their own. If you were the moon you would “hover near your mother” and “play dodgeball with space rocks.” You would “Catch and throw. Catch and throw,” (a reference to the moon’s glow being caused by light “caught” from the sun and “thrown” back to Earth). The right side of each spread offers a scientific explanation of lunar phenomenon, such as cycles and gravity, or glimpse of how humans and animals experience the moon. Hatching sea turtles move towards moonlight; farmers around the world use moon phases to plan crops. The luminous cover illustration evoking the moon’s glow in the evening sky will be the first thing to have hands reaching for this book. Deep color-saturated illustrations, created with acrylic paint and digital techniques, capture the mystique of the moon at night and make this book satisfying to gaze upon, even for those little ones who may not yet grasp some of the more abstract explanations.

[Juliana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from the library. I don't think I would buy it.
I learned a lot about the moon from this book and found its format unique. You can read through the simple text as a bedtime story, or you can read the additional text on each page as educational material.
This book did not hold my children's (5, 3, and 1) attention. My 1-yr-old was too young. The simple text didn't interest my 3-yr-old due to lack of rhyming and lack of cohesive storyline. My 5-yr-old absorbed all the interesting moon facts like a sponge but wasn't engaged by the illustrations.
I think it has value as an educational tool for ages 5-7.

Pros - so many interesting facts about the moon!
- simple illustrations clearly depict the scientific facts for young readers

Cons - not a story, just a collection of facts
- illustrations not suitable for a picture walk
- the simple "storyline" has no rhyming structure

[Vicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts:
Beautiful illustrations as the moon tells a little girl about all the things it does. Science-based, but poetic as well.

Possible Objectionable Material:
Some might have concerns that the back-and-forth between science fact and symbolism/imagination are too confusing for a small child. With a 790 lexile, definitely one to read to children, though those at the high end of the age range should be okay.

Who Might Like This Book:
Anyone who is fascinated by the moon. This makes a great addition to your pile of bedtime stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review is also posted at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2...

[Mariah Fuller · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you were the moon you would do so many things! The moon steadies the earth. The moon spins on its axis and one side of the moon never sees the light. The moon goes through different phases as it orbits the Earth. This book is all about the jobs and origination of the moon on our earth! One thing I really enjoyed about this book is that the illustrations give the moon human qualities and allow us to make comparisons using them in our thinking. Overall, this book does a great job explaining what the moon is all about. The illustrations remind me of our earths night lights. In addition to the explanation of the moon at work, this book shows how the moon helps us as humans, animals, and how it helps everybody on earth in some way.

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated nonfiction picture book shares information about the moon with young readers using lyrical text that reads like a poem. As a little girl is sitting up in her bed and considering the moon, the moon makes the case that it is far too busy to be just hanging in the sky, doing nothing. Each page has a line from the poetic narrative and factual information. The paintings that go along with each point are magnificent. This would be a great way to introduce this information to young readers, with this book as a starting point for further research. It could also serve as a great mentor text for informational writing.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

If You Were the Moon tells the reader what the moon actually does while we’re all asleep. A small child wishes that she could be the moon, hanging out in the sky doing nothing. Each page then explains the moon’s purposes and how people on Earth celebrate it. Salas writes the facts while Kim draws the art. Salas did a good job using basic words for a younger audience. I’d recommend this for 4-5 year olds. It’d be a good read for any child interested in space. The tone is conversational and doesn’t feel too heavy for a child to read by themselves. Kim’s art is great; I personally disliked when the characters’ had their mouths open. It just looked weird to me.

[Jtimko · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what does the moon do? Sit in the sky doing nothing or does it have too many jobs to count?
Soft lyrical prose and beautiful acrylic paints pair up to create a beautiful picture book about the many jobs of the moon. Short descriptive sentences and full page illustrations along with short explanations all on the same two-page spread combine to describe the many functions of the moon. This would be an excellent introduction to a space unit for the elementary level. A glossary and bibliography add additional resources for exploration. Highly recommended for grades 2 through 4.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a Hoopla August 2022 Bonus Borrows recommendation.

Illustration in the book is beautiful. The whale jumping out of the ocean was a particular favorite. The book itself does a wonderful job capturing just how important the moon is to earth and the many things it impacts (I.e. ocean tides, protection from asteroids, etc).

The one flaw was the placement of the facts about the moon and the verbiage. It was jarring and pulled me out of the story. Also, the verbiage might be too much for its audience. A toddler would have no interest in Clair De Lune or Emily Dickinson.

[AMY · Rating 5 out of 5]

(non-fiction) A little girl assumes the moon is doing nothing and wishes to be like it. However, the moon explains all it is currently doing. This book is so beautiful AND full of great information. The illustrations work very well to accompany the information about our moon. I learned so much. Kids will be surprised at all the things the moon does for our planet that might be taken for granted or unknown. I think this book would be perfect for Grades K-5. Highly recommended.

[Laela · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fun way to explore the moon. There is a small sweet sentence on one page and then a fact about the moon on the opposite page. It is well put together with a nice glossary in the back and websites where you can learn more about the moon. A sure pleaser for those kids who love non-fiction.

[Lauren Duffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike many educational picture books about the moon, this one is not dry. My 6 year old daughter asks for it again and again. Lovely illustrations accompany neat things that the moon does such as “hovers with her mother.” Perfect book for learning about the moon’s relationship with the earth or for anytime.

[Dawn Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

A whimsically drawn, information-packed picture book that will appeal to a wide age range as one page has a simple statement answering the book's title, If you were the Moon ("Spin like a twilight ballerina") & the following page offers a brief detailed, scientific response. A wonderful blend of dreamy illustrations & information.

[Aubrey May · Rating 4 out of 5]

If You Were the Moon by Laura Purdie Salas is a nonfiction book that gives many facts about the moon. I thought this a very creative way to present real facts to children. I would use this book in my classroom when learning about the solar system. It has a ton of great facts that would be great for students to learn about.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very colorful and informative book about the moon. I love the way the author incorporated facts about the moon with a bedtime story. Adults can share this book with kids and then look at the moon and review what they have learned about the moon.

[Juliana Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent blend of anthropomorphic moon qualities with the actual facts about the moon. For example the moon twirls like a ballerina in the sky (spins on its invisible axis making a full turn every twenty-seven days). Learn new fun facts about your old friend the moon.