Music for Mister Moon written by Philip C. Stead and illustrated by Erin E. Stead is an unusual picture book about a child’s need for a quiet place in which to enjoy and develop her creativity and also about the sharing of that special gift when it is time.
Young Harriet Henry, who prefers to be called Hank, wants to play her cello in her room all by herself. She’s not yet ready to think about performing for audiences as her parents hopefully suggest.
Hank retreats to her room to play her music but is interrupted by the loud hooting of an owl. To her dismay the owl will not stop hooting as she has asked until she throws a teacup at him and he flies away. Much to her surprise her teacup also dislodged the moon from the sky! Mister Moon is now stuck in her chimney.
The story details how she rescues the moon with the help of a little magic and takes him by boat out into the middle of the lake where he has always wanted to visit. When he is ready to go home, Hank mobilizes a parliament of owls to help her fly Mister Moon back home riding in the safety of a fishing net.
Kindness is also an important aspect of this story as Hank makes a friend and learns to enjoy sharing her music. The lovely illustrations in soft greens and yellows are gentle to the eye and wrap cozily around the book’s imaginative story.
Music for Mister Moon written and illustrated by the Caldecott Award winning team of Philip C. Stead and Erin E. Stead contains an important thought for parents about the creative development of children and is designed to be shared with youngsters 4-8 years of age (Neal Porter Books, Holiday House, 2019).
Questions for Music for Mister Moon
Take another look at the illustrations of Hank’s bedroom where she likes to play her cello all alone. Do you have a special place where you like to go to quietly paint, draw, practice a musical instrument, sing, make up stories, dance or create a puppet show? Draw a picture of your special place. Be sure to include as many details as you can.
This story is full of kind acts. Why did the bear, the hat maker, give Hank a hat for Mister Moon free of charge? Why did the walrus, the fisherman, give Hank a rowboat to row Mister Moon to the middle of the lake free of charge? Why did the owl agree to help Hank fly Mister Moon back to his home in the sky? Have you ever done something kind for someone? How did it make you feel?
Study the illustration of the owls flying Mister Moon and Hank up into the sky. Why is Hank’s cello in the fishing net? What role does music
play in solving Mister Moon’s loneliness as well as Hank’s need to play the cello only for herself until she is ready to play for others? What does Hank ask Mister Moon to be sure not to do if she plays for him? Can you give this illustration a title? Parents and grandparents can help.
