cover image Moon Boy (CL)

Moon Boy (CL)

Carolyn Garcia. Beyond Words Publishing, $15.95 (32pp) ISBN 978-1-885223-81-4

The protagonist of this message-driven debut picture book, the Old Man in the Moon's son, yearns to make friends when he makes a visit to Earth. But he scares people: he has a round, glowing head and a torso that resembles a cupboard with two doors. Two neat-freak girls are convinced that there are dust bunnies and even dust elephants inside Moonboy's chest; the baker is sure there is a miraculous baking machine that will put him out of business, and so on. What's in Moonboy's heart turns out to be all the things he loves: a crowded picture shows stars, whales, pets, crowns, toys and more spilling from the opened doors of his chest. This display somehow persuades the humans that Moonboy, at heart, is like them, and they show up at his house with gifts. Slow pacing and an overly allegorical approach obscure the lesson. The art, however, commands interest. Old-fashioned cross-hatching combines with postmodern figures in an arresting mix of classic and contemporary styles. Tidy patterning contains the profusion of elements on each spread--they are busy but inviting. Ages 4-9. (June)