Mitchell on the Moon: A Great Fall and Halloween Read for Kids

by R.W. Alley

It’s Halloween, and Mitchell’s littlest sister, Gretchen, looks up at the moon and sees that part of it is missing. Gretchen's other siblings, Annabelle and Clark, scornfully tell her that the moon is just hiding behind some clouds, but Mitchell indulges her and sets out to save the moon. A humorous and slightly scary fantasy ensues before the four children set off for trick-or-treating. This spooky fall story joins Clark in the Deep Sea, Gretchen Over the Beach, and Annabelle at the South Pole in a four-book series that celebrates the power of imagination, created by the veteran children’s book illustrator R. W. Alley.

Genres: Halloween, Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 4, 2016

About the author

R.W. Alley has illustrated more than one hundred children's books, including the popular Paddington Bear books by Michael Bond.

In 2010, he received a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Award for Pearl and Wagner One Funny Day by Kate McMullan. In 2008, There’s a Wolf at the Door by Zoë B. Alley was selected as a Washington Post Best Book of the Year.

Mr. Alley’s newest books include:
Saturday Is Dadurday by Robin Pulver / illustrated by R.W. Alley / Walker Books, 2013
"Brightened with watercolor, watercolor pencil, and gouache, the expressive ink drawings illustrate the story with attention to telling details and express the characters’ emotions with clarity and finesse. Fine for reading aloud, this sympathetic picture book will leave many children wishing for their own version of Dadurday." -
Booklist

Because Your Mommy Loves You by Andrew Clements / illustrated by R.W. Alley / Clarion Books, 2012
"Clements and Alley reunite to produce a strong companion title to Because Your Daddy Loves You." - Kirkus Reviews

When Dads Don't Grow Up by Marjorie Blain Parker / illustrated by R. W. Alley / Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012
"As this sympathetic and celebratory book makes clear, endearingly childish fathers are good for more than just goofy fun." - New York Times Sunday Book Review

Currently he is writing and illustrating a series of four picture books about the fantastical adventures of four siblings. Soon, illustrative work will begin on two picture books based on the life of Enzo, the canine hero of the adult novel The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein.

Mr. Alley lives in Rhode Island. Visit him at rwalley.com.

Reviews

[Donna Mork · Rating 4 out of 5]

An adventure with friends. The boy saves the moon from being eaten by Jack-o-lanterns. Then they enjoy a walk in the well-lit evening.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cutsie illustrations, lackluster text. Fine example of an illustrator trying to be a writer. Doesn't work with this book.

[Tracy Mabry]

Halloween, moon, magic!

[Thomas Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a pretty lame book. And it looks like there are other books in the same collection. Yikes! I will definitely not waste my time with them.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite Halloween/Fall books to read to my kids. Mitchell and his siblings are so fun to read about and I love their adventures! The illustrations are, of course, top-notch as well. I enjoy all the books in this little "series" about these siblings, but this is probably my very favorite of the group.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun little book that has a strong imagination component.

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was strange even for a Halloween story.