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Over the Moon
This sweet-natured bedtime book proves that a family is wherever you find love.
When two wolves see a baby floating down a river, what do they do? Why, they take the baby home. Over the moon with joy, they nourish and teach her. And when that baby grows into a child, she and the wolves know that she will be ready to make her way in the world. Because when a child is loved, she has everything she needs.
• A classic fairy-tale premise told with warmth and an inclusive sensibility for all types of families to enjoy
• A touching read-aloud books for families, caregivers, and classroom storytime
• James Proimos has written and/or illustrated over 20 critically lauded children's books.
This gently humorous story shows that families come in many forms, and that love is about both holding on and letting go.
Fans of Finn's Feather, Wild, and Wolfie the Bunnie will find Over the Moon a delightful tale for all ages.
When two wolves see a baby floating down a river, what do they do? Why, they take the baby home. Over the moon with joy, they nourish and teach her. And when that baby grows into a child, she and the wolves know that she will be ready to make her way in the world. Because when a child is loved, she has everything she needs.
• A classic fairy-tale premise told with warmth and an inclusive sensibility for all types of families to enjoy
• A touching read-aloud books for families, caregivers, and classroom storytime
• James Proimos has written and/or illustrated over 20 critically lauded children's books.
This gently humorous story shows that families come in many forms, and that love is about both holding on and letting go.
Fans of Finn's Feather, Wild, and Wolfie the Bunnie will find Over the Moon a delightful tale for all ages.
44 pages, Hardcover
Published March 10, 2020
53 people want to read
About the author
James Proimos
36 books14 followersJames Proimos has yet to rescue a small human from a river, but he has written and illustrated many books for them. James splits his time between Los Angeles and Middleburg, Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 30, 2021
A pair of wolves have to choose between eating or raising a human infant they find floating in a basket down the river in this humorous and heartwarming tale of found families, teaching and learning, and growing up. Very nice!
March 12, 2020
Charming in every way.
March 15, 2020
Reminding of The Jungle Book, this tale invites with the comfort of being wanted, cared for, and having a loving place to call home...even when life flows in another direction slightly.
A little baby girl floats down the river, unconcerned with everything. Two wolves sit: one contemplating right versus wrong, and the other thinking of food. Both fish the baby out of the river, and their tale of family begins.
In some ways, this tale has the atmosphere of folkslore from a faraway country. The baby floating down the river already hooks in, especially when she's pulled out by one wolf, whose stomach is grumbling. The tension is just enough to grab listeners' interest but never ventures into true fear. Rather caution. And that this swiftly dissipates into something else is simply warming. Good feelings abound, and the idea of family with all of its comfort and security fills the pages like a big hug.
The illustrations are done in watercolor and give the entire thing a nice, dreamy feel. The wolves never appear threatening, either. It's wonderful for a read-aloud.
The idea that a child grows up and will someday discover life on its own hits in the last pages. But that doesn't mean the child is really gone, nor does it mean there is a change in the love. A family remains a family no matter what, and this is a wonderful message.
I received a complimentary copy and found this to be a wonderfully, calming and sweet read.
A little baby girl floats down the river, unconcerned with everything. Two wolves sit: one contemplating right versus wrong, and the other thinking of food. Both fish the baby out of the river, and their tale of family begins.
In some ways, this tale has the atmosphere of folkslore from a faraway country. The baby floating down the river already hooks in, especially when she's pulled out by one wolf, whose stomach is grumbling. The tension is just enough to grab listeners' interest but never ventures into true fear. Rather caution. And that this swiftly dissipates into something else is simply warming. Good feelings abound, and the idea of family with all of its comfort and security fills the pages like a big hug.
The illustrations are done in watercolor and give the entire thing a nice, dreamy feel. The wolves never appear threatening, either. It's wonderful for a read-aloud.
The idea that a child grows up and will someday discover life on its own hits in the last pages. But that doesn't mean the child is really gone, nor does it mean there is a change in the love. A family remains a family no matter what, and this is a wonderful message.
I received a complimentary copy and found this to be a wonderfully, calming and sweet read.
March 28, 2020
Families come in many shapes, sizes, and configurations, but one thing all parents know is that their offspring will eventually have to venture forth into the world before coming back home. In this charming picture book, illustrated in gouache, colored pencil, and ink, readers watch as two wolves rescue a human baby from the river and then tend to it tenderly. One wolf is more philosophical and kind-hearted while the other one is far more practical. Over time, both of them come to love the girl just as they would have if she had been born to them. They teach her various survival skills. But one day, she happens to see other human children and eventually decides to follow them, ending up at school where she soaks up much learning from books during the day and then returns to her wolf den and loving parents with whom she happily shares what she's learned while away from them. I'm betting more parents than children will be over the moon with happiness after reading this book because they will be able to relate to the story, but it does offer the opportunity to share with youngsters what the meaning of the title is.
November 4, 2020
There are many books for various ages titled “Over the Moon” but this one aimed at preschoolers will help them understand this expression as one of discovery and happiness. Two wolves find a baby floating in the river. They agreet to take her home where the first wolf wants to “ ...nourish her and teach her about good and evil, light and dark, right and wrong.” The second wolf, however, “...was planning on eating her.” Readers will find the humor and sensitivity as the second wolf grows to love her as much as the first wolf.
Simple cartoonish illustrations in soft colors on mostly double-page spreads show the various emotions of fear and comfort and curiosity.
Feels like a message for adults in a book aimed at children, but it could be used as a warm, snuggly book to show preschoolers (and their caregivers) that separation is natural: they do grow up, find other interests, go to school, and learn to read, but still come home to where they are loved. Each time this reviewer reads this book, she enjoys it more.
Simple cartoonish illustrations in soft colors on mostly double-page spreads show the various emotions of fear and comfort and curiosity.
Feels like a message for adults in a book aimed at children, but it could be used as a warm, snuggly book to show preschoolers (and their caregivers) that separation is natural: they do grow up, find other interests, go to school, and learn to read, but still come home to where they are loved. Each time this reviewer reads this book, she enjoys it more.
September 13, 2024
I guess I just didn't get this one? At all? It starts out "When a baby floats down a river, she doesn't think about her place in the world. She just goes with the flow." I guess we readers are supposed to go with the flow too, because other than Moses, babies floating down rivers isn't really a thing. Then we get the two wolves, one who "thinks about good and evil, light and dark, right and wrong" ... the other wolf, more realistically, thinks about dinner. The wording seemed odd ... the "good" wolf wants to "nourish" her (the second, was planning on eating her). Then it's a little "Tarzan" like childhood, raised by wolves, until she sees humans ...
I know it's just a children's book, and the whole baby in a river, wolves raising her, isn't at all "real" but to have a little girl raised in the wild just walk into a school and pick up a book and start reading?
It wasn't really a book I enjoyed, I think I had a scrunched face. What?
I can see others loved it - into the LittleFreeLibrary it will go (purchased at a surplus library sale).
I know it's just a children's book, and the whole baby in a river, wolves raising her, isn't at all "real" but to have a little girl raised in the wild just walk into a school and pick up a book and start reading?
It wasn't really a book I enjoyed, I think I had a scrunched face. What?
I can see others loved it - into the LittleFreeLibrary it will go (purchased at a surplus library sale).
May 14, 2020
I feel like the Grandpa in "Princess Bride" here and that I should start out by pointing out the obvious, "She doesn't get eaten." Even if that was 2nd Wolf's agenda from the very beginning (love the honesty! and there is a lot of that throughout the whole book, just look for the tree scene!), 2nd Wolf realizes that that there is more than 1 meal at stake here.
This can be read on several levels, and Mister really enjoyed it, while I was sniffling in the other room. I hadn't even seen the pictures and was missing a lot of the context, but still, in the middle of folding clothes and hearing DH read the conversation of the Wolves about time moving to fast, and I was just gone. I could picture Mister sucking his thumb as he sat in DH's lap, and I'm not sure I matched all the socks properly. They were just too soggy to match right, you see.
I picked up the book this morning and read it and enjoyed the pictures. There's a lot going on here. It's good.
This can be read on several levels, and Mister really enjoyed it, while I was sniffling in the other room. I hadn't even seen the pictures and was missing a lot of the context, but still, in the middle of folding clothes and hearing DH read the conversation of the Wolves about time moving to fast, and I was just gone. I could picture Mister sucking his thumb as he sat in DH's lap, and I'm not sure I matched all the socks properly. They were just too soggy to match right, you see.
I picked up the book this morning and read it and enjoyed the pictures. There's a lot going on here. It's good.
March 20, 2020
A little girl is adopted by wolves and lives contentedly with them--until she grows up and sees other children reading outside! So she leaves her wolf family...but still comes back every night with books from the library.
A bit of an odd story, but with a certain charm. (Also the picture where she's lying awake at night is hilarious).
A bit of an odd story, but with a certain charm. (Also the picture where she's lying awake at night is hilarious).
March 17, 2022
Found families, teaching right from wrong and what’s for dinner, growing up and leaving home, but then returning to the place where they love you. Love the 2 wolves, the emphasis on books and reading, and the illustrations. Don’t love how the wolves’ tails look like hairy horse tails instead of bushy, furry tails. Be sure to check out the lovely case cover art too.
June 26, 2024
A sweet book, both visually and with the tender text. I'm just not sure what it was trying to be. First it seems like an adoption story when the wolves adopt the girl. Then it becomes a story about growing up and away from those who love you. It has an emotional twinge to it throughout that is hard not to feel, but I'm not sure WHY I was supposed to have all the feels.
February 17, 2020
This is a very sweet book. Well imagined and very loving, with just a little thrilling edge to stimulate child - adult discussions. The illustrations are warm, often humorous, and very creative. Highly recommended.
July 30, 2020
A fun bit of magical realism in which one wolf wants to teach the baby right and wrong and one wants to eat it. They end up caring for and raising the baby until she realizes that she needs to be in school. But every day she still goes home to the wolves who love her.
December 9, 2020
Two wolves adopt a lost baby, scoop her right from the river, and raise her to become her own person. Eventually, she finds people more like herself, but she's always right at home with her wolf parents. Sweet and somewhat sappy, this book is a great option for sharing with young readers.
February 18, 2020
Zoey Abbott's illustrations are wonderful! I highly recommend this unexpected and delightful story!
March 12, 2020
precious
May 27, 2020
Wonderful story.
May 28, 2020
Little pups must leave home to go to school to learn new things and become better pups and turn out to be well adjusted adults.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2020
So sweet
June 3, 2020
Amusing, Lyrical, Offbeat (Appeal terms from NoveList) - Hilary
October 10, 2020
wry and touching
October 29, 2020
Two wolves find a child and raise her before they have to let her go. Full of parent love and eventual independence. Preschool and up
June 5, 2021
2.5 stars
Title doesn’t match book, there is some humor but plot is very simplistic. Illustrations are charming.
Title doesn’t match book, there is some humor but plot is very simplistic. Illustrations are charming.
August 3, 2021
5yo memorized this immediately and started "reading" it to us, which is appropriate because it is really a book for parents.
August 16, 2023
Such a cute book!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews