Under the moonlight by Susannah Crispe

A bedtime story in verse this charming tale of a frightened moose will give hope to all who fear things that go bump in the night. Moose settles down in the snow for his night time sleep. Surrounded by the cold winter, other animals forage for their food in the snow drifts. But something disturbs moose and he wakes, a little disoriented and frightened. He spies a pack of wolves in the hill nearby, he imagines a creature lurking in the forest, a barn owl screeches over his head. He sees the bush quivering and investigating scares a rabbit. He enters a dark cave only to find a sleeping bear. He runs back to his spot in the forest and there finds a little mouse just as fearful as moose. Together they find peace and sleep through the night with each other as company.

A charming and uplifting tale of companionship, of friendship, of the power of togetherness to overcome fears and moments of anxiety, this story will have children empathising with the fearful moose and feeling relaxed as he finds a friend to share the night with.

Soft illustrations cover each page, giving a good impression of the environment in which Moose lives, and also radiating with the cold of the background. Kids will shiver reading the story and point out the many aspects which make Moose’s habitat cold. Many children will marvel at the flora and fauna spotted in the pages, adding to their knowledge of the place where Moose lives. 

Themes: Moose, Cold, Moonlight, Fear, Anxiety, Friendship, Companionship.

Fran Knight