Come Back, Moon

by David Kherdian, Nonny Hogrogian (Illustrator)

What happens when the moon goes missing? Find out in this poetic picture book from a Newbery Honoree and a two-time Caldecott Medalist.

The moon is full and bright in the sky. So full, and so bright, that Bear can’t sleep! So he steals the moon from the sky and hides it away. But the other animals miss the beautiful, glowing moon…and they set out to get it back in this tender story with luminous watercolor illustrations from a two-time Caldecott Medalist.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals, Storytime, Childrens, Fantasy, Fiction, Adventure

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2013

Reviews

[Scottsdale Public Library]

A wondrous cooperative search for the missing moon. -Monty K.

[Nhi Nguyễn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bear stole the moon because its light made the bear unable to sleep. Other creatures in the forest found a way to take the moon back. That's basically the story. I'm not sure if it has any deeper meaning. But the illustrations are beautiful (loved the colors), so 3 stars.

[Kathryn Dykes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Personal Response/ Plot Summary: Bear has selfishly stolen the moon because its glow is disrupting his slumber, leaving all the other woodland creatures in a panic. Sly fox, crow, opossum, raccoon, and skunk seek owl’s wisdom as to the whereabouts of the moon, leading them to bear’s den. The animals must devise a plan in order to safely return moon home. Crow distracts bear by telling him a good night story, sending bear into a deep peaceful sleep. Meanwhile fox quietly retrieves moon hidden within bear’s pillow. In the end, all the woodland animals rejoice and dance under the bright light of the moon, except for bear who is soundly sleeping.

Literary Merit: Come Back, Moon utilizes language in a way that promotes literacy development for young preschool children. Through repetitive and simplistic words, the storybook allows children to naturally comprehend the text, reinforce vocabulary, and begin to read with ease. David Kherdian’s elementary text paired with polished illustrations by Nonny Hogrogian, has granted this book to grace the Baker’s Dozen list; making it a classic go-to family literacy story.

Genre: The use of negative space between the pages of this picture book helps to guide the audience’s attention towards the characters, making them come to life. The combination of soft watercolor and pencil illustrations provide simple yet beautiful details, making the animals appear realistic. The imagery helps prepare children for what events to expect next within the tale of the missing moon.

Reader Response/ Classroom Connection: Within a preschool or kindergarten setting, this book would be an excellent introduction to learning about animals in the forest and their habitat. Children can create their own woodland forest and creatures using watercolors and pencil, imitating the artwork within the story while enhancing their fine motor skills. Children can also recreate the characters by making puppets. The teacher can provide cut outs of animals, which children can glue onto brown paper bags. Incorporating puppets with a book allows for children to retell the story to their friends and family at home, building upon their social and language development.

[Ali Book&Seaglasshunter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simple story perfect for bedtime for little ones. A bear steals the moon because it’s light keeps him awake at night. The other forest animals miss the moon and make a plan to get it back.
The story is short with only a line or two of text per page. The illustrations are soft and calming and are a nice, realistic depiction of forest animals. I liked that the Fox was given a positive role in the story that shows his typical cleverness as a positive attribute rather than negative.

[Miss Pippi the Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bear wants to sleep but he thinks the moon is keeping him awake. He finds a solution that disappoints the other animals. The other animals work together for a solution. By the end of this short story, everyone is happy.

Animals in the story - bear, fox, skunk, opossum, raccoon, crow, and owl
This would be a fun story to tell with ASL.

2024 storytime theme: Storytime After Dark - Moon

Reviewed from a library copy.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This may be a little weak on story, but it is definitely lovely on the art work of Nonny Hogrogian’s beautiful animal illustrations, especially the fox which seems to be a favorite animal for her to illustrate.
This story while not a folk tale does have the feel of one and I loved the idea of telling the awake bear a story.

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good stolen-celestial-object yarn for young readers, though it's just a riff on traditional tales. Liked the charming but consistent-with-nature illustrations of the many forest animals. A soothing bedtime story.

[Tina Hoggatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can hear a child reading this for themselves as I read. Such a simple story but so much satisfaction as the moon is stolen by Bear, kept awake by its light, and then stolen back by the animals who missed it. Lovely illustrations by Sonny Hogrogian.

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very simple story. Might work for storytime.

[Miss Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bear is having trouble sleeping by the light of the moon, so he decides to steal the moon. Can the other animals get the moon back? Toddler and up

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly beautiful artwork!

[Maeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

The moon goes missing, so the forest animals must find it and return it to the sky.

[DiAnne Warfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

CADL FB Live story time, 11-16-2020

[carrietracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute illustrations but there's not much here. Maybe nice for really small ones who can't understand a story yet, but nothing to keep older listeners engaged.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, easy-to-follow story with a nice dose of whimsy—might try it in storytime!

[ChiChi · Rating 5 out of 5]

You had me from the fox on the cover. Totally loved it!

[Katelynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the illustrations.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids as young as two - or even younger? - might enjoy this book, with simple prose, repeated phrases, and beautiful illustrations.

[Alexi · Rating 4 out of 5]

- simple, soft illustrations. perfect for bedtime!
- cute story
- short and sweet

[Kathy Piselli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gentle, sleepytime story with colorful illustrations of a possum, raccoon, skunk, bear, fox, crow, and several flies. And one full moon.

[Josiah · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is definitely Nonny Hogrogian's style of book. The story has the unmistakable timbre of folklore to it, with animals conversing and conspiring like human beings, possessed of powers one wouldn't ordinarily expect of people, let alone four-footed creatures. But in a folk story, strict adherence to everyday reality isn't of great importance. It's the feelings that count, and how the characters arrive at a final resolution.

When Bear has trouble drifting off to sleep one night, he blames the bright light of the full moon for his bout with insomnia. So Bear swipes the glowing orb right out of the sky and hides it in his pillow. Now he can get some sleep, he figures. But the other animals are not pleased about the moon disappearing from their night sky. They miss its pale emittance cast over their outdoors homes, security against a night too dark for comfort. Led by clever Fox, the animals plot to steal back the moon and restore it to the heavenly starscape. Bear may have blamed it for his sleeplessness, but the moon has been out almost every night of Bear's entire life. Why now would it suddenly prevent him from restful slumber? If they can put the moon back where it belongs, then all the animals just might be able to get a little sleep tonight.

David Kherdian's words coupled with Nonny Hogrogian's artistry have a notably poetic effect, and the soft, drowsy feel of Come Back, Moon could be exactly the right experience for certain beginning readers. Those who liked Nonny Hogrogian's 1972 Caldecott Medal-winning One Fine Day will probably be partial to Come Back, Moon as well.

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story begins with Bear, who is trying to fall asleep. Sadly, the light of the moon is so bright that he cannot fall asleep and so decides to steal the moon. The only animal that sees this happen is Owl, and the other animals all speculate and wonder where the moon has gone. When they worry about the location of the moon, they start to ask each other whether they know where the moon has went. A small group of animals then decide to ask owl, who of course, knows exactly where the moon is.

Come Back, Moon is a cute story with some animals that set out on a mission. However, from the first reading it would appear there are no morals or lessons to pick up from the reading. When you look again you can catch some subtle things that a child could use to learn. Such as what Bear did in the story was wrong. The entire story felt quick, and like the climax came too soon and was then solved far too early. It could have gone in a different direction but was resolved quickly and within a few pages.

I liked the illustrations and that it was a quick read, but I feel like there could have been a better story line all together. Had the problem not been solved so quickly, it probably would have been more enjoyable for me.

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this quiet book, Bear blames the moon for not being able to fall asleep. So he pulls it out of the sky. Fox notices that the moon is gone and so do Skunk, Opossum and Raccoon. Crow asks Fox why he doesn’t know where the moon is, since he’s so clever. So Fox takes them all to talk to Owl who is wise. Owl knows where the moon is, since he saw Bear take it. So they head off to retrieve the moon from Bear. But how will they get it away from him?

This book has a wonderfully clear and simple story line that makes it ideal to use with toddlers. It also has a deep quiet to it that will work for good bedtime or naptime reading. Kherdian uses repetition throughout the story, having the different animals share ideas and echo back decisions.

Hogrogian’s art also has that simple style. She has wonderful images like the one on the cover that speak to the darkness and loss of the moon. Her animals are realistically depicted and appear against white or tan backgrounds with few details.

There is a place for quiet books for small children and this one has just enough activity to keep it moving too. It would make a great board book. Appropriate for ages 1-3.

[Garrett Harner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever not been able to sleep? In Come Back, Moon, Bear is having the same issue. To fix the problem, Bear steals the moon right out of the sky!?! All of the other animals are upset and go on a quest to set the moon free back to the sky where it belongs. The animals must use teamwork to find the moon without Bear knowing. Will they be able to bring the moon back to the night sky? Read on to find out what happens!
In the classroom, this book could be used a few ways. This story could be great to intrigue young readers, and encourage them to make predictions on what is going to happen at the end of the story. This book would also lend itself to teach children lessons in teamwork, sharing, helping friends in need, and the values of honesty and not stealing.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the bright light of the moon keeps Bear from sleeping, he steals it and hides it away in a pillow case. Several animals, including Skunk, Opossum, Raccoon, Crow, Fox, and Owl investigate its disappearance. Once they find the moon, they frolic under its beams while Bear just keeps on sleeping. This story has the look and sound of a classic with its perfectly crafted watercolor and pencil illustrations. The concern of all the animals is obvious from their faces and physical stances, and they work hard to figure out where that moon is. This one reminds me of many well-loved folktales.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Bear can't sleep because of the light of the moon, he decides to steal it. The other animals are upset about the missing moon and ask owl for help. Owl tells them where to find the moon. Working together, Crow puts Bear to sleep with a story while Fox finds the moon in Bear's pillowcase. The animals dance under the light of the moon while bear snores on.

A sweet bedtime story with a trickster feel, preschool-aged children will enjoy this story with lots of repetition, gentle illustrations, and a charming animals.

[Teresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes, I think that winning an award is more of a hindrance than a positive thing. When someone has won an award, especially as well-known an award as Caldecott, it raises everyone else's expectations of that person.

That's what happened with this book. The author and illustrator were Honor and 2 time recipients respectively so I had high hopes for this book, which failed to deliver (for me anyway...it's all subjective).

It's sweet enough and has good kids appeal that I have it 3 stars (which is "I like it.").

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bear can't sleep with the light of the moon keeping him awake so he steals it and hides it away. The other animals wonder where the moon has gone and turn to Fox to fix the problem. Fox consults Wise Owl and learns that Bear stole the moon. In a trickster-like twist, Fox outwits Bear and takes back the moon.

Watercolor and pencil illustrations perfectly mirror the soothing nature of this story. I liked the repetition of the text and the facial expressions of the various animals. PreK-2.

[Bethany Harnden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple sentences encourage young children to repeat the questions and follow along with the group of simply yet accurately detailed pencil illustrated woodland animals on their quest to retrieve the stolen moon. The story asks children to believe that a bear could easily snatch the moon from the sky and that it can be tossed back up into place, but these peripheral events, though implausible, are fun to imagine.

[Josie B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Bear can't sleep because of the brightness of the moon, he steals it and starts a chain of beautifully illustrated events. This would work with 2 -5 year olds. I plan to use it with my 3-5 year olds ( who are mostly 3) to talk about cause and effect, and with their parents to talk about narrative skills. It could be paired with Kitten's First Full Moon by Kevin Henkes or How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers.