Welcome back to the Moon Book
Parade, highlighting five fantastic 2023 picture books that feature the Moon.
You can scroll down to see the first two posts in this series. Here’s a list of all
the books:
Full Moon Pups by
Liz Garton Scanlon
and Chuck Groenink
Night Owl Night by Susan Edwards Richmond
and Maribel Lechuga
A Few Beautiful
Minutes: Exploring a Solar Eclipse by Kate Allen Fox and Khoa Le
Museum on the Moon: The
Curious Objects on the Lunar Surface by Irene Latham and Myriam Wares
Thank You, Moon:
Celebrating Nature’s Night Light by Melissa Stewart and Jessica
Lanan.
All
the creators have generously agreed to donate two copies of their book for a
double five-book giveaway. Leave a comment on any of the posts and share it on
Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram to be eligible. We’ll announce the winner at
6:26 p.m. ET on October 28, when viewers on the East Coast will have a chance
to enjoy a partial lunar eclipse.
So where are we in the lunar
cycle? Saturday is the New Moon, but it’s not just any ol’ New Moon. It’s a New
Moon associated with an annular solar eclipse (which occurs when part of the
Sun remains visible around the edges of the Moon). That’s the reason we’re focusing
on A Few Beautiful
Minutes: Exploring a Solar Eclipse written by Kate Allen Fox and illustrated by Khoa Le today.
Greetings, Kate. I’m so
excited about your charming nonfiction book! Even though it has the word solar
(not lunar) in the title, our closest companion in space plays a critical role,
doesn’t it? Can you tell us what the Moon means to you?
KAF: While the book is about a
solar eclipse, the moon is a main character. During the totality of a solar
eclipse, the moon completely blocks the sun (or so it appears from certain
spots on Earth), except for the sun’s outer atmosphere, which is called the
corona—or crown. I’m really enamored with the idea of the comparatively tiny
moon stealing a crown from the massive sun—a classic underdog story. At one
point in the book, I refer to the moon as the “unlikely queen of the solar
system.”
How did the idea for A Few Beautiful
Minutes: Exploring a Solar Eclipse come to you?
KAF: I was lucky enough to view
the last total solar eclipse in North America, which happened in 2017. As my
spouse and I were driving to the eclipse, we listened to some podcasts about
eclipse chasers. I was really struck by the idea of planning for years and
years for something that only lasts a few minutes (hence the title of the
book). For me, the book is really about how transient experiences can be
powerful and transformative.
What was the most challenging
part of writing the book?
KAF: As someone who writes
lyrical, STEM picture books, it’s always difficult to balance the poetry with
the scientific content. It was particularly challenging for this book. At some
point during one of many revisions, I tweeted about how it was probably a
mistake to write a book about a “famously ineffable experience.” But I got
there!
A Few Beautiful
Minutes: Exploring a Solar Eclipse came out last month. How did you celebrate?
KAF: Fortunately, my kids are
still picture book readers (ages 5 and 7), so I’ve been enjoying sharing the
book with them and their friends.
What do you hope readers will
take away from the book?
KAF: Oh, this is a tough
question because there are so many things you can take from an eclipse
experience, and they’re all very personal. But if I have to pick one? I hope readers
fall in love with the universe—at least for a few beautiful minutes.
Do you have a favorite spread
in the book?
KAF: Yes! Every spread is
amazing, thanks to the brilliant illustrator Khoa Le, but I particularly love
the spread that features the face of a child experiencing the eclipse. If you
look closely, you can see the eclipse reflected in the child’s eyes.
Can you share a couple of
Moon-themed children’s book that you love?
KAF: One of my favorites is Moon’s
Ramadan, written and illustrated by Natasha Khan Kazi, which came out this
year. I also think A Big Mooncake for Little Star by Grace Lin is pure
magic.
Next Thursday, the Moon Book
Parade will feature Irene Latham, author of the innovative and surprising
picture book Museum on the Moon: The
Curious Objects on the Lunar Surface.
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