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The Children’s Book Review | December 2, 2019
Written by Sean Stratton
Illustrated by Kathryn Jacobi
Age Range: 4 and up
Paperback: 31 pages
Publisher: Waxwing Editions (September 9, 2019)
ISBN-13: 978-0578576251
What to expect: The Moon, Nighttime, and Mysticism
If a story that conjures up a dreamy confusion of thoughts sounds intriguing to you, then The Popsicle Moon is the picture book for you.
While strolling down the street, Inspector Clyde, Chief of Detectives, is caught by Madame Montgomery’s shadow trap. Her job is to collect one shadow per day. But why? With his feet stuck in a big patch of her bubble gum potion, the Inspector is furious. All Madame Montgomery needs is for the Inspector to sign his name in her contract book, and then he can be on his way. The Inspector does not want to sign away his shadow; however, when several boys come racing around the corner chasing a pig, he is separated from his shadow and carried away on the back of the pig. Madame Montgomery retrieves the shadow, but not before one of the boys drips a strawberry popsicle on it. By some mysterious agency, no spoilers here, a crescent moon appears, and the night air is filled with the scent of strawberries. It is a night to remember.
The Popsicle Moon is a creative story with occult qualities. There is almost a Sendakian tone to it, in that it is both wholly absurd and mesmerizing at the same time. The illustrations manage to present both a painted look with a 1980s video game appeal (the latter mostly due to the rainbow framing around each picture).
Recommended for those that find enjoyment in the unpredictable and the refreshing.
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About the Author
Sean Stratton traces his beginnings as a wordsmith to the second grade, when his macaroni and cheese recipe won a place in the annual PTA cookbook. Propelled by this auspicious beginning, he pursued an Ma in English en route to a college teaching career. His writings span a variety of genres, both fiction and non-fiction, and include a travel memoir, Islands on the Fringe: A Year of Micronesian Waves and Wanderers (Phantasea Books, 2018) that documents his adventures teaching English on a remote Pacific island. He exercises caution when walking near shadow traps.
About the Illustrator
Kathryn Jacobi is a painter, printmaker, photographer, and illustrator with a long list of publication credits, including the children’s books The Half a Moon Inn, and Tomorrow’s Wizard. she exhibits her work in the United States, Canada, and Europe. To see more of her work, she invites you to visit her website at www.kathrynjacobi.com
Dedicated Reviews allow authors and illustrators to gain prompt visibility for their work. This non-biased review of “The Popsicle Moon” was sponsored* by Sean Stratton. Learn more about getting a book review …