The Moon

by Robert Louis Stevenson, Tracey Campbell Pearson (Illustrator)

So begins Robert Louis Stevenson's famous poem The Moon . Now Tracey Campbell Pearson takes readers on an illustrative late-night adventure set to this text in which we follow not only the moon as it shines on the creatures of the night, but also a father and his young son out on a late-night romp through quiet streets and fields, in a boat around a moonlit bay, and home again to sleep in their cozy house. Detailed, luminous watercolor-and-ink paintings capture the magic of nighttime, and its many nocturnal creatures, as well as the special love between a father and son.

Genres: Picture Books, Poetry, Childrens, Storytime, Classics

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, and travel writer, and a leading representative of English literature. He was greatly admired by many authors, including Jorge Luis Borges, Ernest Hemingway, Rudyard Kipling and Vladimir Nabokov.

Most modernist writers dismissed him, however, because he was popular and did not write within their narrow definition of literature. It is only recently that critics have begun to look beyond Stevenson's popularity and allow him a place in the Western canon.

Reviews

[Meghan Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect bedtime poem to read to children! The illustrations are beautiful and it is a quick and easy read. For a child to read this themselves, the vocabulary might be difficult but it is something they can quickly pick up. "The Moon" by Stevenson is a wonderful poem and it was created into an even better story.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Louis Stevenson's poem is stunningly illustrated by Tracey Campbell Pearson.

[Karol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice way to introduce classic poetry to a child.

[Ice 9 · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://letterstocassiandotherfolks.bl...

[Charleston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pointed to the moon on every page! And even found a truck and a woof-woof!

[Shanna Gonzalez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tracy Campbell Pearson has charmingly illustrated Robert Louis Stevenson's poem The Moon, from A Child's Garden of Verses. Some of the poem's language might not be immediately transparent to modern youngsters, and this picture book brings the poem's sense into a modern understanding, following the journey of a father and son as they embark on a moonlit motorboat ride. They farewell a peaceful mother, baby in arms on the back porch, and walk past raccoons, the "thieves on the garden wall" pilfering vegetables. In each new scene a line of the poem is illustrated well (although it is a bit of a stretch to picture the "squalling cat and the squeaking mouse" engaged in chase-and-catch on board the little boat).

The illustrations aren't as impressive as Ted Rand's My Shadow, but the images convey a deep serenity, and the young family is portrayed with a rare tenderness that evokes great familial security. Each scene contains enough visual interest to tempt the reader to interrupt the poetic flow to stop and enjoy the images. This is well worth reading to a preschool or elementary audience.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

My five-year-old son picked this book out from our local library this week.

The poem, The Moon, comes from Robert Louis Stevenson's A Children's Garden of Verse from 1885. Little known fact about me: I own a copy of Robert Louis Stevenson's A Children's Garden of Verse from 1885. Sadly, my copy is in very poor condition and slipcover-less. I still treasure it -- my favorite aunt gave it to me when I was about my son's age. Anyway, I do have a soft spot for anything from this book.

Because I adore the poem, I want the artwork to be spectacular. The illustrations are not spectacular. They are adequate, quite good even, but not spectacular. I do like the modern interpretation of the artwork the poem; it helps make the poem timeless, but the artwork lacks the elegance of the poem.


Actual rating: Five stars for the text; three stars for the illustrations.

[Zach Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Moon by Robert Louis Stevenson (pictures by Tracey Campbell Pearson) is a picture book with a stanza from the poem on every other page. The pictures tell most of the story, and are much more detailed than the text. The book introduces many kinds of nocturnal creatures, such as raccoons, bats, owls, mice, cats and howling dogs. It also discusses creatures that sleep at night, such as birds, flowers and people. The notion that the moon rises at night and sun rises in the morning is also introduced. This book could be used in conjunction with a science lesson on animals that are active at night, along with basic astronomy, such as phases of the moon and sunrise times. It can be used for Kindergarten or first grade.

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read at "On the Road" story time on 7/12/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

Read at "On the Road" story time on 7/25/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

Read at "On the Road" story time on 7/30/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

Read at Pajama Story Time on 8/1/12: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

Read at Drop-In Story Time on 8/2/13: http://storytimesecrets.blogspot.com/...

[Spencer Wanlass · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Moon by Robert Louis Stevenson is a poem about the Moon and the affects it has on life forms. The illustrator did a great job with this poem. Originally, the book was just a poem, then it was turned into a story with pictures. The pictures give the poem a different feel to it. The pictures have a Father bringing his son to a boat and they go boating together at night. All the while the poem is going on about the moon. So it's a different take on the poem. I would use this to show kids that any poem can be taken and put into pictures.

[Alexis Mraz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This old poem has been made into a picture book, while it is still in the format of a picture book it is more of a poem. In a sense it is a poem set to a picture, which is great for the younger children, but doesn't really tell a story. It's a good story for the younger audience but not for the older audience. Not the best on the market, but it is a fun little read right before bed!

[Rbettermann]

This is a great picture book with beautiful illustrations by Tracey Campbell Pearson. This book is about a little boy's description of the moon and how it accompanies him with every part of his day. This is actually a poem within a book and the poem is listed at the end of the book. I could use this with literature to add to a lesson of poetry. I would recommend for grades k-first.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a lovely poem made into a picture book. Great for a bedtime story or a poetry-themed story time. The poem is about the moon and everything under it, while the watercolor and ink illustrations include scenes of a family settling down for the night.

[Gianina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love children's books that are illustrated poems! This one is well illustrated to keep a little person's attention with animals that can be identified on each page. I like that the poem in its entirety is printed at the end for review.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

We love this book. The pictures remind us of Old Saybrook, the surrounding CT countryside and Long Island Sound. A lovely book indeed.

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

We loved the sweet illustrations in this book.

[Sarah Ballentine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a great, easy-to-read book that's perfect for any elementary classroom.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely poem made into a lovely picture book.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pictures of a father and child out in the moonlight illustrate Stevenson's poem from A child's garden of verses.

[Anissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

moon face

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The illustrations for this Robert Louis Stevenson poem are excellent and create a vivid plot for the poem. Awesome!

[Amal herch · Rating 2 out of 5]

i listen to this book and it is easy for any poetry beginner

[Sylvie Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illustrated by Denise Saldutti.

[Michael Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generic cartoon-like illustrations cheapen things.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

The poem was fine.

But the pictures created for the story made no sense. A father and son boating trip in the middle of the night? Didn't like it.

[Sally]

Great illustrations that set the poem to a father and young son's late-night trip to see the moon off the Maine coast, a real favorite with the twins even at 14 months.

[Charlsie Smith]

This book really teaches the value of family! I think it would be a great read for students in the class as a read aloud.