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Monday, November 22, 2021

Moon Pops, written and illustrated by Heena Baek. English translation by Jieun Kiaer. Owlbooks, 2021. $19.95 ages 4 and up


"The moon was melting! 

Granny ran out 
from apartment 
503 with a bucket 
to catch the falling 
moon drops.
"

 Bedtime stories can be such fun for little ones! On a hot summer night, everyone in Granny's building has their air conditioners on, fans running, even their fridge doors left open. Not surprising that the power goes out. What is shocking is that only Granny notices the moon is melting. She rushes to catch the drips, wanting to use them to make moon pops. Those moon pops work to melt away the heat all are feeling. 

"Back home in their beds,
everyone slept with their
fans and air conditioners
turned off, their fridge 
doors shut tight, and 
their windows open wide. 
Their dreams were 
icy and sweet.

Now, who is that knocking at the door? Two rabbits, former inhabitants of the moon, are at Granny's door. They no longer have a home. What to do? Leave it to Granny to find a use for the last few moon drops, and a lovely solution to the rabbits' worry. It takes a little patience, but the result is a real delight. 

 Wonderful illustrations accompany the folkloric storytelling. Created using dioramas and cut-paper, they provide soft moonlight, sleepy creatures, shared dark shadows, and a happy conclusion. 

"Some claim there is a man 
in the moon, while others say 
there is only cheese. 

According to Korean folklore, 
when you look into the night 
sky, you might just see a rabbit, 
pounding ingredients with a 
mortar and pestle.
"

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