The Crimson Comet

by Dean Morrissey, Stephen Krensky

Count the stars up in the sky.
The Man-in-the-Moon is flying by . . . On a night when Nora just can't get to sleep, she looks out at the moon and watches it turn dark. How could this happen? Together with her brother, Jack, Nora sets off into the sky aboard Jack's rocket. Up and up and up— The rocket lands on the moon! But will Nora and Jack be able to give the moon back its light before morning comes? Dean Morrissey has fashioned a modern-day fairy tale complete with an ingenious red rocket that could only come from the mind of a true artist—or a small boy. Climb aboard for a bedtime trip beyond your wildest dreams.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Adventure

32 pages, Library Binding

First published September 26, 2006

Reviews

[David Schwenker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Beautiful art - stunning, in fact - but the writing is bland. The art never fully connects with the text (i.e., the text says one thing, the art shows something else entirely) and the narrative beats don't transition well from one to another. A shame as the kernel of the story is interesting (steam punk journey concerning kids traveling to see the man in the moon).

[Susan Honthumb · Rating 4 out of 5]

sweet

[Misbah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A couple kids get into their red comet to he'll the man in the moon restart the moon when it's lights go out.
Loved the very realistic oil (pastel?) illustrations.

[Jc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such an exciting story of imagination. Wonderful.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

A clever book with really, really cool ideas but they somehow don't come together as well as they should. As Nora watches the moon it goes out like a light. So she and her brother Jack take a trip to investigate in the rocket that Jack keeps in his room. Great visual gags, the moon like a pull chain old light, the control panel of the Crimson Comet. Unusual too in it's construction, story and pictures by Dean Morrissey, but written by Dean Morrissey and Stephen Krensky. So Dean Morrissey had the story idea, but somehow needed another writer? Is that why it doesn't quite hang together? I don't know.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice tale of a brother and sister who make up an adventurous bedtime tale and show how good sibling cooperation can be. It's a fanciful tale that takes them all the way to meet the Man in the Moon and back again. The illustrations were dark, to match the nighttime setting, but very detailed and realistic. Our girls enjoyed this story.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

...the storyline is average, but the illustrations are gorgeous!

[Rose]

E Mor

[Kelsey Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful illustrations. It's short and sweet and to the point. Plus, I'm a sucker for childhood imaginings of the moon.

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really engaging and striking illustrations but the story is a bit clunky and choppy. It felt like pages were missing with how it jumps at times. Still worth a look and a read.

[Rusty Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun story of imagination. I liked how the story made full circle.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite interesting, and the illustrations are rich and highly detailed. I perfect little tale.