Under the Clam Moon

Guided by bubbles, “doughnut” holes, and puddles on a sandy beach, a child and their uncle hunt clams under a full moon in Wells and Rahman’s luminous picture book. When the young narrator grows cold and sleepy before finding a single clam (“they too fast!”), the youth imagines the “chowders, dips, and pizzas” that will result from the catch. After a s’mores break in front of a bonfire with Mama and a younger sibling, the two resume the hunt, and the child finally reaches deep into the sand, finding a “HUGE” clam—and a messy surprise that becomes part of the night’s magic. Purples and yellows recur across velvety, light-dappled illustrations that capture the nighttime atmosphere and the family’s interactions. It’s a jubilant, anecdotal-feeling celebration of intergenerational bonding and the natural world. Characters are portrayed with brown skin. Back matter includes an author’s note and info about clam types. Ages 3–6. (May)