Susannah Crispe, Under the Moonlight, Lothian Children’s Books, April 2022, 24 pp., RRP $2499 (hbk), ISBN 9780734421159
He felt so much better with somebody there.
Moose is drifting off to sleep when he hears a frightening noise. He imagines fearsome creatures lurking in the dark and wants to know what awful thing disturbs his sleep. Off on a nighttime adventure he goes, encountering a screeching barn owl, thumping snow hares and a grumpy hibernating bear, becoming more fearful along the way. But it isn’t until Moose stops his search that he realises the noise doesn’t come from a fearsome creature but a small, frightened mouse. Moose scooped up the mouse with great care and they slept, cuddled up tight for the rest of the night.
This is a beautiful tale of friendship and fighting anxieties. The fear Moose feels at being alone at night is eliminated once he is with Mouse. Likewise, Mouse who could not sleep for fear of the night’s unknown is content once Moose discovers him. The imagined dangers are forgotten, and the forest is no longer a scary place. Fearing the dark and struggling to settle one’s mind at night is a relatable concept to children and parents who try to help them overcome it. These charming characters provide parents and carers with an engaging nighttime read that will encourage children to find comfort with a friend to cuddle.
The story is written in captivating rhyme that is soothing and drives the plotline masterfully, flowing with fear, tension and loneliness and developing into comfort, relief and security. This is heightened by the colourfully detailed illustrations of a turning season, from autumn to winter. Soft oranges, yellows and reds provide pops of colour in a snowy forest setting. Sussanah Crispe has also skillfully captured the emotions of Moose and Mouse in facial expression and body language.
I recommend this delightful picture book for children aged 4-7 as a bedtime read while cuddling a favourite soft animal.
Reviewed by Katie Mineeff
