Mae and the Moon, by Jami Gigot | Book Review

The Children’s Book Review | July 17, 2016

Mae and the Moon

Written and Illustrated by Jami Gigot

Hardcover: 36 pages

Age Range: 1-8

Publisher: Ripple Grove Press

ISBN: 978-0-9913866-2-8

What to expect: Phases of the moon, exploration, imagination

Mae’s favorite playmate is the moon. He seems to follow her everywhere, but no matter what she does, she cannot catch him. They play hide and seek together through parks and fields until she’s so tired she can only lay on the grass, gazing up at the moon with her dog.

One night, Mae realizes the moon is changing. Then suddenly, the moon disappears. Where did it go? How can she find the moon now? Mae sets off on a delightful adventure using her imagination and a handy cardboard box to build the “Moon Chaser 5,” a rocket that will help her find her lost friend. Will she and her dog sidekick be successful and bring the moon back home to the night sky? Or will the moon stay hidden forever?

MAE AND THE MOON is a delightfully different bedtime story for children. The illustrations are calm and soothing, perfect for a slumber-time read. Mae is charmingly cute, and her hipster parents and spunky little brother are sweet (as is her little dog helper). I especially loved the real phases of the moon illustrated inside the front and back covers. It’s a great talking point with little children to help explain how the moon waxes and wanes in a cycle. The science is soft, but the facts are very real and easy to understand. It’s a great introduction to more scientific topics. Plus, the book encourages imagination and creativity, like building one’s own rocket ship to the moon. How adorable. The text is ideal for children, without being too simple.

Overall, MAE AND THE MOON is a surprising and unique book that hits all the right notes for children and parents alike. Highly recommended.

Add this book to your collection: Mae and the Moon

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About Jami Gigot

Jami has always loved a good story. As a child she would secretly read by moonlight well past her bedtime. As she got older she collected comic books, became mesmerized by the advent of digital animation, and developed a passionate interest in the relationship between story and pictures. She moved from her hometown of Madison, Wisconsin to Vancouver, BC where she studied digital animation and VFX at Vancouver Film School. She has worked as a Digital Artist and Texture Painter on several films including Avatar, Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Captain America. Driven by her wild imagination and inspired by her children and memories of childhood, she is now honing her illustration skills, and putting pen to paper to create her own picture books. After living in Madison, Los Angeles and London, she has returned to Vancouver where she currently lives with her husband and two children, both of whom happen to be incredible moon spotters.

This is Jami’s first picture book.

For more information, visit: JamiGigot.com

Mae in the Moon, by Jami Gigot, was reviewed by Denise Mealy. Discover more books like Mae in the Moon by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Books about the Moon, Imagination, Outdoor Exploration Books, Bedtime Books, Picture Books, and Science.