Happy Birthday, Moon

Moonbear #2

by Frank Asch

Grades K Through 3

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Juvenile, Storytime, Nature

Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

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

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darling little book with wonderful pictures. I wanted to reread my books from this series, that I got from my parents when I was very young, (this one was for my 2nd birthday in 1985), before I passed them along to my 6 week old niece to enjoy! 😊.

Original rating and review posted: 9/2/25

[Marzieh Torabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book touched my heart so bad, I wanna cry.

[Thomas Bell · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got tired of the echo theme long before the book was over.

[Caroline]

I don’t get it but my 5 year old granddaughter is rapt at the video, which is simply the narrated illustrations. The idea of echos and mistaken inferences captivates her.

[Westminster Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real cute book that is good for my daughter’s age (two). I thought this book was originally under a different name so I had the hardest time finding it again. But I did finally find it and it brought back memories of reading it when I was a child.

Find Happy Birthday, Moon at the Westminster Public Library!

[Zahra Zarrinfar]

مرسی از گردونه طاقچه، بهم سه روز بی‌نهایت داده منم رفتم سراغ کودک و نو‌جوانش، یه سری کتابای کانون پرورش فکری رو که دیدم قشنگ ذوق کردم ما خونمون پر بود از کتابای کانون (نمی‌دونم چی شدن و کجان الان) خلاصه این که دارم تجدید خاطرات می‌کنم.
اینم یکی از اون کتاباست ولی الان که خوندمش یه حس تنهایی وجودم رو گرفت. قصه یک خرسیه که می‌خواد برای ماه کادو تولد بگیره، می‌ره قله‌ی کوه که صداش به ماه برسه بعد که داد می‌زنه فکر می‌کنه انعکاس صدای خودش جواب ماهه. حالا که دیگه بقیه داستان رو لو نمی‌دم ولی همین گفتگوی خیالیش با ماه به من حس غریبی داد.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first favorite book! I checked it out from the library so many times that they ended up just giving it to me!

[Ronan Crutchfield]

The bear in this book is very nice. I’ve never had a birthday before, so I’m not sure what all they are like. But I’m glad the bear shared his birthday with the moon

[Fabyan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happy Birthday, Moon is a memorable read. Somehow, it’s simplicity is what make this such a great picture book for children. The story begins with a brown baby bear, named Bear, pondering on the idea to give the moon up in the night sky a birthday present. Bear then attempts to communicate with the moon, hoping to get an idea when the moon’s birthday is or what it likes. When the bear heard no response from the moon, he continued to position himself onto the higher ground until he reached the top of the mountains where he finally could greet the moon, and make a new friend.

I enjoyed reading this book. It consisted of a short but unique story of innocence that gives us an idea how a child may perceive the world around them at an early age. The illustrations were also dark and bold, giving us fine distinctions between all the objects and colors. The author makes use of transitional pictures and recycles pictures and lines throughout the story, reminding us that repetition makes perfect for beginners in reading.

[Kristy Teague · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute story for younger elementary-aged children. Bear wants to get the moon a birthday present and travels to a high distance to talk to the moon. Full of humor and suspense, the author gives the reader a chance to practice making an "echo sound" to capture what the bear imagines the moon is saying to him in return. Helpful for teaching about giving/generosity, communication and listening, cause and effect.

[Ruth Covington · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art of this book has stuck with me my whole life, and when I think of this book, I remember that chocolate dark bear and the rich deep blue background and the beautiful white shining moon. I was awed by how beautiful and rich these colors and contrasts were, and how soothed and comforted they made me feel.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

We're starting to read longer stories at night! This was the first I tried, and it's a good one for the evening. There's a bit about echoes, and it was weird to try and use the same inflection when it was conversational.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A reissue of this charming classic.

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites from when I was little.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um, I love this book.

[Dareen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet book! A good way to teach students about being selfless.

[Adriana]

"When a bear discovers that the moon shares his birthday, he buys the moon a beautiful hat as a present."

[Guilherme Semionato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lobel's OWL AT HOME-ish. Very soothing and lovely.

[Annie Jewell]

This is a very sweet book. I think children would like it. Great imagination!

[Nadi Ghaffari · Rating 4 out of 5]

بامزه.

[Zoha Mortazavi · Rating 5 out of 5]

خدای من! این کتاب، کتاب مورد علاقه من در کودکی بود! چقدر به چشمم رویایی میومد! هنوز هم دارمش، یک جایی خونه مامان باید باشه. این طور تصویرسازی رو بار اولی بود که می‌دیدم، خمیری و تخت اما پر و واضح. حالا که دارم تگ کتب کودک و نوجوان رو مرتب میکنم، به چشمم خورد که این کتاب، یکی از مجموعه‌ی MoonBear هست. چقدر خوشحالم. خیلی زیاد.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story, "Happy Birthday Moon", is a cute book. It shares how the Bear in the story wants to give the moon a present and the bear tries to talk to the moon. Older readers would understand that the voice the bear is hearing back is the bears echo. For younger readers this would be a good way to introduce sounds.

[Tara Engel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet tale about a bear and his friend, the moon.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet story about a Bear who talks to the Moon and doesn’t realize he’s talking to himself… but he’s got a kind heart. Illustrations are pretty basic but it works for the plot. Overall, 4/5 stars ⭐️ and would recommend for ages 3+.

[Tyler McGaughey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical thinking at its most selfless and giving.

[Lacie Ortiz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This adorable book is about a bear who thinks, "Wouldn't it be nice to give the moon a birthday present". So the bear climbs a tree and tried talking to the moon, the moon didn't respond and bear thought this was because he was too far away. So the bear paddled across the river, hiked through the forest, and climbed the mountains. He figured he was much closer to the moon now, so he showed "Hello" His echo replied back with hello but bear thought it was the moon talking back to him. Bear ended up buying a hat for the moon cause he thought they shared the same birthday. And at the very end of the story the bear shouted "Happy Birthday!" to the moon and the bear thought the moon shouted "Happy Birthday!" back and he was happy. I felt happy while reading this book because it reminds me of how young kids think and believe these kinds of things. The story was very simple but the message is so much more than that. The illustrations were also very simple. The setting was at night but the illustrations lit up the night very pretty. The moon would make it look like it had lightened up the pictures. Obviously, as older readers, we know that the moon can't talk and most of us have an idea of how far the moon is. Climbing a tree and climbing a mountain doesn't do much of a difference for getting closer to the moon, but knowing that young readers think like this is what makes the book humorous. I would use this in a classroom when talking about outer space. I would read this book and then ask students how far they think the moon is? And then ask if climbing a mountain makes a large difference or small difference from climbing a tree and then I would go into the lesson.

[Eileen Ackerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beloved children’s classic, Happy Birthday Moon by Frank Asch is a picture book written for ages 2-6. When Moonbear discovers that he has the same birthday as the moon, he is delighted. However, he can not figure out what he can get the moon for his birthday. But he soon discovers that all his new friend and himself need is love.
I gave this book 5 stars because when my children were young they never tired of this book and it’s simple message and pictures. The plot is dramatic in that it focuses on the single storyline of Moonbear trying to solve the problem of a gift for the moon. The character of Moonbear is portrayed as curious and gentle. The language in the book is repetitive and simple appealing to young readers. The basic theme of love and friendship is something young children can relate to. The illustrations are also simple and basic to match the story. All have a deep blue background with a brown Moonbear and bright blue moon. Once again repeating the pattern and rhythm of the text. This is a delightful story to read to students to teach patterns and storylines.

[Willow Schroyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

• Happy Birthday Moon by Frank Asch is an adorable picture book that deserves 5/5 stars. The illustrations look like a coloring book page that’s all colored in. Using simple Blue’s greens and Brown’s was perfect for this story. The pages aren’t overpowering with text and often the pictures take over not just one but two pages. The formatting of a yellow outlined white border is perfect to illustrate the Picture book feeling. Page 8 is a perfect example of a text box with a matching yellow border overlapping the picture but nothing significant in the illustration.
• This Picture book is about an adorable brown bear who becomes friends with the moon. He goes on an adventure to get closer to the moon so that he can hear him better. Bear starts talking to the moon and find’s out that they have the same birthday and they want the same thing for their birthday. When Bear travels home he get’s a gift for the moon but how will he get it to the moon?

[Susan Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bear wants to buy the Moon a birthday present but first he must find out Moon’s birthday. So begins this wonderful story of a generous and kind bear.

Happy Birthday, Moon by Frank Asch was published many years ago, but it is one of my all-time favourites. The cleverly written dialogue creates a humorous situation which culminates to a lovely conclusion.

Frank Asch has also done a great job with the pictures which are simply done and crafted to explain the text.

A delightful children’s book.

[Amanda Batarseh · Rating 5 out of 5]

very cute book. Its about a bear who wants to go tell the moon goodnight and so he traveled a little and when he went to go talk to the moon he heard the echo of his own voice but he thought it was the moons. He thought him and the moon have the same birthday since it was his own voice echoing back. he got the moon a hat and threw it In a tree and in the morning the hat fell but the bear thought the moon gave him the hat as a gift also. at the end the bear goes and tells the moon goodnight and he thinks the moon said it back to him. its a very cute book!