What would you do if you could pluck the moon from the sky? Would you scoop it up in an ice cream cone or dangle it as a piñata, ready to burst open? A mother and daughter ponder the moon, letting their imaginations take flight.
I Would Dangle the Moon is an imaginative read that will tickle the fancy of any young reader.
The simple prose, with a repetitive pattern, encourages both adult reader and little listener to ponder and imagine together.
Author Amber Moffat is a writer and visual artist based in Australia, but still has strong links to her hometown of Dunedin. As an experienced teacher and a fierce advocate for arts education, her debut book is a shining example of her values.
Her rich, colourful paintings paired with the playful prose makes for a fun book to share. We were swept up with the story and spend a great deal of time after each reading pondering and dreaming about the things we would do with the moon if we were different creatures or people.
It is a large book in the physical sense too though. With a black cover it certainly stands out on the bookshelf.
It’s size also contributes to its uniqueness - the book is a large square, which makes for a great canvas for Moffat’s expansive and detailed paintings. However, it can become a little bit of a difficult juggle for a read-along with a group. The story is also long, almost a little too long for pre-schoolers.
Despite this though, the lyrical poetic writing and illustrations are very unique. It would make for a great platform for any creative learning experience in a classroom. With the fiftieth anniversary of the moon landing coming up, the book offers an opportunity to explore the special place the moon holds in our collective imagination.
I Would Dangle the Moon is a wonderfully unique read that encourages imaginative play.
Reviewer: Rebekah Fraser
Midnight Sun Publishing, RRP $34.99