Join in on a bedtime adventure as two siblings—and their cat—dream of the sea and the stars, and the creatures that live where the ocean meets the moon, in this beautifully illustrated story celebrating imagination.
Moonbeams light our course across a star-swept sky.
Three dreamers—two siblings, one cat—embark on a magical bedtime adventure, discovering delights of the sea, sand, and stars. In this place where the ocean meets the moon, imagination and reality mix to reveal creatures both beautiful and rare.
Explore the lunar dreamscape to find glowworms, flying fish, and moon crabs dancing with delight. Look closely for a shy but curious cephalopod reaching out a tentacle in friendship.
Climb aboard—it’s time to sleep.---from the publisher
32 pages 979-8989858859 Ages 3-7
Keywords: bedtime story, fantasy and magic, adventure, siblings, cat, imagination, animals, friendship, connection, wonder, 3 year old, 4 year old, 5 year old, 6 year old, 7 year old
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“The Venus’s flower basket (Euplectella aspergillum) is a deep-sea, glass-like sponge found in the western Pacific Ocean. Made of silica (the same material as glass), its intricate, lattice-like tube is surprisingly durable. It is also famous for its lifelong symbiotic relationship with a pair of shrimp that become permanently trapped inside its glass walls.”
– Google AI
“Once, there was a way to get back homeward
Once, there was a way to get back home
Sleep, pretty darling, do not cry
And I will sing a lullaby”
– Lennon/McCartney (1969)
“Bed sheets billow in solar winds,
as we cast our boat adrift…
moon sailors in search of treasure,
perched on pillow seats.
We sail a path of Earthlight
to moor where moonshells glisten.
‘Listen!’
We press them to our ears
and hear the music of the spheres…
singing, ‘Follow the glowing trails
of slow celestial snails!’
Oysters clustered on the shore
offer gifts of pearls
until our buckets brim.”
So begins an exceptional, sea-drenched lullaby of a picture book, featuring a young brother and sister, along with their kitty.
Having undoubtedly spent a glorious and active day on the coast, where their family is staying in a seaside town cottage, and having now prepared for bedtime, the siblings and feline board their “craft” fashioned from pillows, a sheet, and a broom.
And so it is that this trio sets a dreamy course between sky and sea, where they encounter all sorts of exotic sea inhabitants by the light of the moon and stars.
“Draped in Neptune’s necklaces,
we race through sparkling pools.
Glowworms wriggle through fronds
of iridescent algae.
Below the swell,
Venus’s flower baskets grow under
nodding jelly moons.
Above, constellation whales breach and blow.
Flying fish flick and leap
to kiss our cheeks a sweet goodnight.”
Rachel Gregg’s stunning pencil-and-watercolor illustrations make MOON SAILORS one not to miss. Juxtaposing the stars and the sea as the sibs set sail, they reveal the ocean’s alien-like plants and creatures, so different from what we encounter in our typical days on the planet. These eye-catching sea spreads will make this one unputdownable for the fortunate children provided the opportunity to spend quality time poring over depictions of the sea’s otherworldly inhabitants.
The trio’s adventures conclude with a playful surprise for audiences, as we return to the children's bedroom, where one of the sea creatures from the dream is unexpectedly curled up on the bed alongside the cat.
Wait! Was it a dream or what?
Immersed in rich, tongue-tingling language, you’ll all but feel the rocking of the sea as this stellar Australian import is read.
Bon voyage and goodnight!
Recommended by: Richie Partington, MLIS, California USA
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