Eleanor’s Moon - Maggie Knaus - ★★★.¼

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AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR: Maggie Knaus
GENRE: Children's Picture Book.
RATING: 3.25 stars.

In a Nutshell: Has some engaging moments but feels a bit lacking.

Story Synopsis:
Eleanor’s grandpa has shared a bond with her right since the day she was born under a harvest moon. The moon has watched over their relationship, and as the years go by, Eleanor learns plenty of moon-related facts from her grandfather. However, when her mother gets transferred to another city, Eleanor is worried that she and her grandpa will be as far as apart as the earth and the moon. But with the help of technology and letters, they keep in touch. And of course, the moon is still with them in both their locations.


At its heart, this is a beautiful story, touching upon the loving relationship between a grandfather and his granddaughter. I loved the way they bonded over their shared passion for the moon, and how the moon kept them feeling close to each other even after they were physically apart. I especially enjoyed the inclusion of letters as a way of keeping in touch, a habit that the younger generation has evolved out of, thanks to instant messaging.

There were so many opportunities for the book to elevate the story, but it touches upon the points at just a superficial level. I thought that it might raise the topic of the death of a loved one, or the emotional aftermath of separation, or of moving to another city leaving extended family and friends behind. But none of these were explored.

There are a couple of difficult words such as ‘crescent’ and ‘sliver’ in the text. The very first page has a mention of ‘harvest moon’, but this isn’t explained. If an unusual term is used in picture books, I think the text must incorporate its meaning (directly or indirectly) so that independent young readers know the relevance of that word/phrase. All explanations can’t be left to the adults who are reading the story aloud to little ones.

The illustrations, sketched by the author herself, are beautiful, with the watercolour style art matching the poignancy of the text. However, I do wish we could have seen the facial expressions better.

All in all, the content is definitely good, and I liked it enough, but it could have done far more and far better. In terms of language and approach, the book ought to work for readers aged 5-7 years.

My thanks to Owlkids Books and NetGalley for the DRC of “Eleanor’s Moon”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

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