Little Red Reads

  • Home
  • About

Children’s Picture Book Review- Sweet Moon Baby

August 1, 2012 By Heather Leave a Comment

Sweet Moon Baby: An Adoption Tale
by Karen Henry Clark, Patrice Barton
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published November 9th 2010
by Random House Children’s Books
ISBN 037595709X
Book source: author
5 stars

 

Book Summary from Goodreads: This is the story of one baby’s journey from her birth parents in China, who dream of a better life for their daughter, to her adoptive parents on the other side of the world, who dream of the life they can give her.
A turtle, a peacock, a monkey, a panda, and some fish shepherd the baby as she floats in a basket on
a moonlit, winding river into the loving arms of her new parents.
Perfect for bedtime reading, Karen Henry Clark’s poetic text, reminiscent of a lullaby, and Patrice Barton’s textured and gentle-hued illustrations capture the great love between parents and children and the miraculous journey of adoption.
Heather’s Review:  The first thing that struck me about Sweet Moon Baby is the beautiful illustrations. They are enchanting and whimsical in water color. Patrice Barton has amazing talent. She worked on them for the author, Karen Henry Clark who adopted a child from China and had no story to tell her about her young infant life before she came to America. Clark uses prose to tell the tale of a family in China who doesn’t have enough food to feed their baby and want to give it a better life.

In the mean time, another family across the globe in America is preparing their home for a baby by planting a garden and filling a room with books and toys, still no baby comes. Both families have to rely on the moon to carry their wishes. Sweet Moon Baby is a wonderful book for parents with adopted children and children who wonder why their biological parents would give them up. I recommend it for all ages and can honestly say it will be a favorite in our home.

Author Bio: Because I loved books even more than candy or birthdays, I decided to write one when I was four years old. When I realized no one could read my loops and dots, I dictated the story to my father. He patiently wrote it on my blue-lined tablet. My mother read it with me daily, insisting it was the most exciting tale she had ever heard.

Getting published became my ambition. I had no idea how difficult this would be.

After decades of rejection, I complained to a successful author who had generously taken me under her wing. Wisely she said, “If you stop submitting your stories, you will not be published. I promise. Maybe you should do something else–like become a waitress.”

Years later I discovered the right story when we adopted our daughter from China. I made up an adventure about her imaginary journey down the Pearl River. SWEET MOON BABY became my first published book.

To date, I have not become a waitress.

Meet the Illustrator:

Book Review-Over the Moon

February 13, 2012 By Heather Leave a Comment

Over the Moon An Adoption Tale
by Karen Katz

Hardcover, 32 pages
Published September 15th 1997
by Henry Holt and Co.
ISBN 0805050132
4 stars

Product Description from Amazon: “Your baby has been born! She is wonderful. Come quickly and get her.”


This is a magical, reassuring story of one adoptive family”s beginnings, told in words and pictures that are just right for the youngest child–an ideal story to share with families everywhere.

 A long-awaited baby is born, and the adoptive parents who have been dreaming of her fly far, far away to bring her home.


Mary’s Review: This little book is absolutely beautiful.  The story is simple enough for a child to understand what adoption is and how special it is to be adopted by a family who really wants you.
The illustrations are so colorful and bright.  Each new page reminds me the patch work quilts my grandmother used to make.


I recommend this book for ages 5 and up.

Author Bio: I have always been interested in folk art from around the world, Indian miniatures, Mexican ceramics, fabrics, Chagall, Matisse, children’s art, and primitive painting, and I love to paint and experiment with pattern, texture, collage and color. The careers I’ve had–as a costume designer, a quilt maker, a fabric artist, and a graphic designer–have taken all these interests into account. Looking back, I can see that these passions and career choices have played a large part in influencing me to become a children’s book author and illustrator.

But most importantly, it was after my husband and I adopted our daughter from Guatemala that I was inspired to do a children’s book for her. My first book, Over the Moon, was the story of that magical experience of welcoming our daughter Lena into our lives. I painted, I drew, I collaged, and I wrote, and after working very hard… a beautiful book was born! Twenty-two books later, my daughter–now fourteen years old–still is an inspiration for me.
I am fascinated by babies and little kids. The simplest words and gestures can make them laugh. Sometimes standing in line at the supermarket and watching kids in grocery carts, my best ideas are born.

I am fascinated by people from all over the world and what they look like and how they live and the differences that make us all unique.

Welcome

We are the children's division of Fire and Ice. We review baby board books to middle-grade titles. We also review products and toys for the family. For inquiries on reviews, blog tours, and author interviews contact FireandIce.Heather@gmail.com
The Tuttle Twins - a child's foundation of freedom

Grab a Button

Little Red Reads

Search This Site

Our Mother Site

Fire and Ice

Follow by Email

Archives

Tags

aladdin amazon Andrew Thomas blog tour board books brandon mull Case File 13: Zombie Kid cedar fort children's books childrens childrens e book disney hyperion disney press ebook ebooks free free ebook free reader friday giveaway hannah montana Harper Children's harper collins j scott savage karen katz kindle Kindle Edition Kurt Zimmerman linda watts listening little red reads MG middle grade middle grade books random house Review rockstar rockstar book tours scholastic shadow mountain Sharlene Alexander simon and schuster simon schuster Sneak Peek time worry

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2021 Design by Imagination Designs