Moongame

Moonbear #5

by Frank Asch

Book by Asch, Frank

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Space, Fiction, Storytime, School

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Frank Asch is an American children's writer, best known for his Moonbear picture books.

Asch published his first picture book, George's Store, in 1968. The following year he graduated from Cooper Union with a BFA. Since then he has taught at a public school in India, as well as at a Montessori school in the United States, conducted numerous creative workshops for children. He has written over 60 books, including Turtle Tale, Mooncake, I Can Blink and Happy Birthday Moon. In 1989 he wrote Here Comes the Cat! in collaboration with Vladimir Vagin. The book was awarded the Russian National Book Award and was considered the first Russian-American collaboration on a children's book.

Asch lived in Somerville, New Jersey where he and his wife home-schooled their son Devin.

He currently lives in Vermont with his wife, Jan.

Reviews

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short and enjoyable read for children that helps them to understand that we can have fun if we set our minds to it but also to not be so susceptible to events around us. Part of the Moon series (I honestly didn't know there was a series when I was younger), this is one of many books that allows readers to be able to understand the world around them without taking away the magic.

More or less this book will be to the liking of actual children then the grown-ups who are around them since many adults will be wondering how the smart bird is actually pretty dumb when it comes to trying to find the moon. Can you really represent both sides of the intellectual scale like this? And also what about the rest of the woodland animals falling for the same fact that no one knows where the moon is?

With the exception of my above complaint the writing is simple and easy which helps to make this series really acceptable to beginning readers. Although the pictures are of a darker palette it sticks with the night scene while the rest of the characters are adorably cute.

In the end if you can put away your own critics on this book it is a good one to share with little ones although you may enjoy some other books from the series a bit more. Definitely one series to try to get a hold of and see what you think of it before sharing.

[spookybelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was fine. These books are fine.

[Monica Loftus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really like all the pictures in this book and how they take up almost the whole page. It’s a silly book but I like it

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the only book of this series that we own. I’m sure they are all great, but my 3 year old requests this book frequently. It’s a favorite at our house.

[Dave Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading level: 2.6

Summary: This is a playful book about a bear playing a game of hide and seek with the moon. At the end he finds the moon. which was hiding behind some clouds.

Characteristics that support the genre: There are simple, colorful pictures on every page, with simple text to go along with it. One could understand the story by just looking at the pictures.

Traits:
Ideas: The idea of the book is to be playful and have fun with your friends.
Presentation: The story is presented in a way that is easy to follow, the bear in the woods at nighttime, looking for the moon, and interacting with other animals. At the end he finds the moon.

Classroom Integration: This book would be good for a 1st or 2nd grade class during a quiet story time, perhaps integrated into a lesson about working together and playing well with each other.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bear's friend, Little Bird, teaches Bear a new game -- Hide and Seek! Bear and Little Bird play all day. When Bear goes home, he sees Moon and invites Moon to play. Bear hides first and Moon (of course) finds him. Then Moon hides -- behind a cloud. And Bear cannot find Moon anywhere! He enlists the aid of all his forest friends. Eventually the cloud moves and Moon is back! Which means everyone can play hide and seek in the moonlight.
I love all of Asch's Moon and Bear books - they are so gentle and sweet.

[Savannah Webster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love to read Frank Asch books, especially the bear books with young readers. There is a lot of bigger science concepts being touched on but in a sweet, simple, and playful way that relates to how young minds learn. In this story bear is playing hide and seek with the moon and the moon is really good at playing it apparently =)

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hide and seek with the moon

[Viviane Elbee]

Fans of Moonbear will probably like this one, but I preferred the other Moonbear books we've read.

Love the title!

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was ok. Not bad but not great either.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another part of the Moonbear series, Moonbear plays hide and seek with the moon and gets faked out by lots of things that look like the moon.

[Mellanie C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was sweet. Bear plays hide-and-seek with the moon.

[Grandma M · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK, not great. Fun to see what the bear mistakes as the moon (a wedge of cheese, yellow balloon, etc.) Illustrations are a bit dark for my taste.

[Tima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bear learns a new game from his friend Little Bird. When Bear is alone that evening he decides to play his new game of hide and seek with the moon. But when the moon gets lost Bear can't find him anywhere. He becomes worried and enlists all of his woodland friends to help him find the moon again.

The illustrations are adorable and fit well with the story. The lessons of team work and sharing were well written into the plot and will be easily understood by children. The rules of the game are explained to the reader as Little Bird shows Bear how to play. Children will enjoy counting with Bear and Little Bird as they play hide and seek. The story could be read by an early reader with the age appropriate vocabulary and larger print. Both of my elementary age children enjoyed this book. It prompted a fun discussion about the moon when we finished.

I received this book free of charge from Children's Lit in exchange for my honest review.

[Vivian]

This story was a huge success in our "Outer Space" story time. There are lots of prompts embedded in the story inviting children to participate. On the first page Little Bird and Bear and playing a new game -- hide and seek.

--> tell the children to cover their eyes and count with you to ten. Everyone uncover your eyes! (as you turn the page). Further on in the story a gentle breeze blows a cloud in front of the moon.

--> have children hold up a hand and blow on it several times

The next few pages invite looking and finding and identifying objects.

[Ina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very sweet book with simple text and brightly colored illustrations. Little Bird teaches Bear a new game: Hide and Seek. Bear likes it so much that he plays it with the moon after everyone else has gone to bed. The moon finds Bear quite easily, but then it's Bear's turn to be it...and he can't find the moon. Before the end of the book all the forest animals are awake and searching! My storytime audience loved this book, even though some of the kids were well beyond the toddler stage.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bear and Little Bird spend all day playing hide and seek and Bear has so much fun that he doesn't want to stop at night. So, he invites the moon to play with him. When the moon hides behind a cloud and Bear cannot find him, a search ensues with Bear enlisting the aid of all the other forest animals. Simple text with a sweet story, this makes a decent, but not outstanding, addition to a story time about bears, the moon, or nighttime.

[Megan Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

The infamous Frank Asch. I reread one of my favorite books as a kid and I was not disappointed. Bear is playing hide and seek with a moon and after Bear cant find the moon, he asks his forest friends to help him. The illustrations are simplistic with a bold palette. I enjoy going on a adventures with Bear.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frank Asch's MoonGame is a gentle story about a bear, a bird, the moon, and a game of hide-and-seek. At night, when it grows dark and the moon comes out, bear asks if it wants play a game of hide-and-seek. Bear gets worried when he can't find it...and asks his forest friends to help.

Used for Dream Big:READ!: Moon Storytime: July, 2012.

[Leah Mullenaux · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was OK, kind of dull for me though. It's about a bear playing hide-and-go-seek with the moon. It's a pretty interesting storyline, not very captivating illustrations, and basic characters. Not much else to say about the book... It may be interesting to young kids, but I don't think it would mesmerize them.

[Kellee Hao · Rating 3 out of 5]

When you don't have any friends to play hide and seek with you, ask the moon to play with you! This book talks about fun is an adventurous journey about finding a hidden moon. It also talks about how friendship plays a role in life and how teamwork is effective.

[Sophie Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The children would love to have this book in the classroom library. Its just one of those books you can find yourself reading again and again.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as some of his others, IMO. Still, I think kids will have fun being "in the know" about where the moon is hiding while little bear looks all over for it! :-)

[Eireanne]

On the suggested summer reading list for students.

[Gail · Rating 2 out of 5]

My two year old enjoyed this but I don't think she got the point. She just liked the pictures of all the animals.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Playing hide-and-seek with the moon.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic

[Cheyenne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bear plays hide and seek with the moon. He is very much like a small child.

[Kristina]

In Story Time kids love trying to spot the moon with bear, then telling me what he really saw.

[Twotwo]

ar 2.6