The Man in the Moon pays a visit: Moonman

MOONMAN
Moonman (2014) Ned Barraud text & illustrations, Craig Potton Publishing, Nelson, 38 pages, paperback, NZ $20

Ned Barraud, best known for his naturalistic wildlife illustrations, has produced an elegantly stylised fable about the man in the moon. Moonman leads a simple life on the moon. “Under twinkling stars he takes his broom and sweeps the moon until it’s clean and gleaming.”  Each night he sees the blue glow of a mysterious planet. Curious, he hitches a ride on a falling star and crashes into a new and alarming world - Earth.

Young readers will enjoy seeing Moonman’s response to the Earth objects that they are familiar with. (Mushrooms alarm him; grass tickles his toes.)  Then Moonman faces the tricky problem of returning to his home. Fortunately one of his new Earth friends is able to help and the story ends well, with Moonman planning a new adventure.

 

Using phrases like “caretaker extraordinaire,” Barraud’s prose is a little complicated for the young readers who will most appreciate his book but they will certainly enjoy having it read to them. The illustrations are a delight.

 Trevor Agnew

 This review was first published in Your Weekend magazine on 25 April 2015.

Full publishing details:

Moonman (2014 Ned Barraud text & ill, Craig Potton Publishing, Nelson, 38pp
Paperback:  ISBN 978 1 927213 27 8
Hardback:   ISBN 978 1 927213 28 5

Moonman: book review

 

Moonman, Ned Barraud

book review by Trevor Agnew      

Moonman (2014) Ned Barraud text & ill, Craig Potton Publishing, 38pages, paperback, NZ$19.99

“Under twinkling stars he takes his broom and sweeps the moon until it’s clean and gleaming.”

This elegant picture book asks what the man-in-the-moon might think of the “mysterious blue planet” he can see each night. Intrigued, Moonman hitches a ride with a shooting star and lands with a crash in a tree. “The blue planet is nothing like he’d imagined.”  Alarmed by the darkness, and the eyes of night creatures, Moonman is heartened by the sight of his familiar moon shining above the mountains. Reassured, he frolics among the grass and flowers.

Then Moonman has a new shock. “A ball of fire rises in the sky.” Burned by the sun’s rays, Moonman seeks refuge in a deep cave until his familiar moon rises again. “How will I ever get home?” asks the homesick Moonman.

Fortunately a helpful owl carries him up into the sky, where a passing star can carry him back to the moon. There Moonman sweeps the moon and then lies in bed wondering about “a beautiful red glow he can see among the stars.

The author’s illustrations are elegant and restrained, especially those showing scenes of darkness. Moonman is an appealing angular character not afraid to show his feelings. This picture-book provides a simple introduction to the stars and planets and, of course, to the caretaker of the moon.

 Trevor Agnew

Recent edition info:

Moonman (2014 Ned Barraud text & ill, Craig Potton Publishing, Nelson NZ, 38pages

Paperback:  ISBN 978 1 927213 27 8

Hardback:   ISBN 978 1 927213 28 5

 

 

Trevor Agnew 

7 Jan 2015