Mothering Many

Recently, I recieved a copy of The Moon Shines Down by Margaret Wise Brown. I’m sure you recognize that name as the author of the incredible Goodnight Moon. The manuscript for this new book was found in an old trunk, and you can read more about that at the link above. It’s a neat story, and won’t take more than a minute or two. The book however, may take several hours, spread over a few years

The Moon Shines Down is a thoroughly enjoyable read, and my younger children were sucked right into it. I started with two kids on the couch right before nap-time and ended up with three on the couch, and two more listening in, but “too cool” to show it by coming closer. Too bad for them, because the illustrations are great. The premise is the famous good night prayer, but the text and illustrations help bring that little Dutch boy and the child in the far, far east to life. If you like living books, this one will be a treasure. I can easily see using it to jump off a unit study on world cultures for elementary aged children a la Five In A Row.

I’m sure it will become a bedtime favorite at your house, just as it already is at mine.