The Moon and the Stars (Joshua & Prudence Books) - Hardcover

Alona Frankel is the author and illustrator of over thirty titles for children, including the well-known Once Upon a Potty titles. Ms. Frankel's work has earned her a place on the Honor List of the International Board on Books for Young Children, several Parents Choice awards, and many additional honors and awards. She lives in Tel Aviv, Israel.

PreSchool-These are bland takes on potentially interesting themes. On Grandparents' Farm depicts Joshua's journey through a pastel landscape with his parents in their pastel car (that looks like something from The Jetsons, but is called an "old Chevy") to visit his grandparents. Odd images rendered in cartoonlike illustrations are fanciful interpretations of what Joshua sees on the road and what he eats and does at his destination. In The Moon, Prudence gets up on the wrong side of the bed. No matter what anyone does for her, it "felt like something was missing," and each person asks, "What more could you want? The moon and the stars?" Finally, her mother knows exactly what she needs-a great big hug. These characters, who appeared in the Once upon a Potty books (HarperCollins), are a washout here.
Lisa Falk, Los Angeles Public Library
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