Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC.
I truly enjoyed this heartwarming story but I would have to say my favorite part were the illustrations.
I would love to see it in print.

Moon Bear is almost a wordless book with words on the first page and almost the end. This is a cute bedtime story, that will help with children who are afraid of the dark, as well as allow parent and child to interact with the story by telling it themselves and describing what they see. Ettie is afraid of the dark... Until one night when the bright moon shines through a crack in her curtains. She goes to the window and seeing the stars in the sky, she connects them like dots and the Moon Bear appears. They play together and she is not longer afraid of the dark and can't wait to go to bed the next night.

This is a beautifully illustrated book, that ignites the imagination. The kids took turns describing what they saw and I explained that they were writing the story with their words. We also talked about being afraid of the dark (which the oldest is) and how their nightlight was like the starlight that came in the window. We enjoyed this one, and my granddaughter wants to write her own story (with my help) the next time she sleeps over and we read this one again.

A book with barely any words but beautiful illustrations that tell the story of a girl afraid of the dark and a moon bear who’s afraid of the light.

My son first didn’t really appreciate it. He loves stories with more words. However with every day we read it he liked it more because he could make the story up and tell it in his own words.

I as a parent loved this book. The illustrations are stunning and very calming. I love the creativity this book brought into our bed time stories. Leaving room for imagination and my son to add to it. I would highly recommend Moon Bear. It’s quickly become one of our favourites.

I thank Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

A little girl's fears of the dark are vanquished by a sparkly bear that she conjures in the night. Reminiscent of The Snowman, this is a magical tale is nearly wordless, and leaves the reader wondering, "Was it real, or just a dream?" This lovely book owes a lot to the exquisite artwork by Carolina T. Godina.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Moon Bear is such an adorable and nostalgic read! It reminded me, in ways, of The Snowman, which I loved as a child. We follow a little girl who goes through her nighttime routine of getting ready for bed (bath, putting on pj's, story with mum, then sleep) but she seems a little scared of the dark and keeps a torch on in her bed. When magical lights shine through from her window, she goes to investigate and finds a moon bear who's come from the starts in the night sky. They play together and have lots of fun, and the little moon bear gets scared at one point, to which the little girl explains about what scared him and comforts him. They fall asleep in her tent in her room, and when she awakens, she's all alone. She rushes through her day, eager to get home and go to bed to see Moon Bear again, and this part is so funny, especially her telling her mummy it's time for bed instead of the other way round.
There's only afew words at the beginning and at the end and the rest is left for the reader to interpret into a story themselves. The illustrations are so adorable and very easy to follow and understand what is happening for children.

This is the most beautifully illustrated book with very few words. It's silent beauty is instantly calming, which makes it a great bedtime book. It could very easily have a written narrative. to accompany it but without it, it allows children to fill in the blanks and add their own interpretation to it, prompting thought and discussion. Hugely different, refreshing and thought-provoking.

Moon Bear by Clare Helen Welsh is a beautifully imagined tale of magical friendship. This nearly wordless story is illustrated by Carolina T. Godina in a lush palette of dark blues and greens with highlights of brilliant white. We first meet a little girl named Ettie, who is afraid of the dark. One night, while Ettie is lying awake when a beam of sparkling light shines through her window. The light brings Moon Bear, a curious young cub who becomes Ettie's friend. This is a peaceful book that could be a lovely bedtime story, especially for children who are a bit fearful of bedtime. The beautiful illustrations can be enjoyed any time of day.

Precious illustrations accompany a mostly wordless story about a little girl who is afraid of the dark and the Moon Bear who helps her find comfort in the night. A great bedtime story.

Very clever storybook! Hardly any words but the beautiful pictures tell the story.
A little girl who is afraid in the dark discovers the magic of the moonlight and draws a bear with whom she can play until she falls asleep. Now that she’s no longer afraid in the dark, she can’t wait to go to sleep at night to see her bear friend again.

Moon Bear by Claire Helen Welsh is a book with a powerful message that will children to learn that you can overcome your fears but do not have to feel any shame. Ettie is scared of the dark and Moon Bear is afraid of the dark which is shown by some beautiful illustrations. I loved that this story didn't have many words but was still able to get the story across.

⭐️3 Stars⭐️

Moon Bear is a cute story following a little girl who is scared of the dark, and moon bear who is scared of light. Together they play and communicate non-verbally, enjoying each others company and accommodating around their fears.

I found the idea that two beings helping each other with their opposite fears to be quite beautiful. They showed each other why they dont have to be scared and are safe, while still validating each others fears. This is a fantastic lesson to children that while it’s important and possible to overcome your fears, there’s no shame in having them.

While this book is beautifully illustrated, I felt it needed more narration. For me, it took me a whole grasp the concept of the book, as I couldn’t see the deeper meaning with just the pictures. It wasn’t till after I read the synopsis that I understood the book completely. I feel that a child may have an even more difficult time understanding the meaning, unless their guardian was to have a discussion about the lesson afterwards.

Overall, this book is perfect for children with anxiety, or who are simply afraid of the dark. The adorable illustrations are sure to put a smile on not only your kids face, but also your own.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This picture book is magic. The attention to detail, the delicacy with which the emotions are represented... Simply spectacular.

In this nearly wordless picture book, Ettie’s mother tells her it’s time to get ready for bed. Ettie takes a bath, picks out pajamas, reads a bedtime story with her mom and then hides under the covers with a flashlight in hand seemingly afraid of the dark. Suddenly a magical flurry of lights peeks through her window. Ettie discovers she is able to manipulate the mystical moon light and in the night sky she draws a bear. Magically, the bear appears in her room and together they play until they fall asleep side by side. In the morning, Ettie is saddened to find the moon bear is gone, but she can’t wait to get ready for bed the next night to once again be reunited with her friend.

Containing just two lines of text, this largely wordless picture book shows Ettie at bedtime. At first, they are afraid of the dark, but soon sparkling lights from the moon form a bear that comes through the window to play with Ettie. The gouache and colored pencil paneled artwork depict Ettie as white, with an indeterminate gender. Is the bear real or from Ettie’s imagination? Because of the smaller panels, this will work best one-on-one but not for storytime. Not to be confused with the classic picture book Moonbear by Frank Asch (S&, 1978).

Moon Bear by Clare Helen Welsh features only eight words in the narrative itself, and yet the story comes across so well in the beautiful illustrations by Carolina T. Godina. Little Ettie is scared of the dark, something many children will be able to relate to, and ends up clutching to her torch after bedtime. So when a beam of moonlight enters through her bedroom window she investigates and ends up drawing to life a little bear made of starlight! The two have a night of adventuring and help each other face their fears with compassion and some gentle persuasion and guidance. This will be a story I am sure many children will want to return to, time and time again.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy.

Moon Bear is an absolute delight to read!

Ettie is afraid of the dark... Until one night when the bright moon shines through a crack in her curtains. She connects the stars in the sky as if they were dots and a Moon Bear appears in her room! Together they face each other fears.

I like the sky. The Great Bear (or Ursa Major) is one of my favorite constellations! And I love the moon! I have got out of the bed in the most inconvenient hours imaginable to go outside to take pictures of it. I once went to exam with no sleep because I was up all night taking photos of the moon.

And for the longest time, I was afraid of the dark! I started to get over my fear when my father introduced me to the stars. That meant pointing at the sky and reading a lot of non-fiction. I would have absolutely adored a book like this as a child!

The art and story also reminded me a lot of the film The Snowman (1982) - which is actually based on a book but I have never read it. I love the film and this book made me feel just the same, magical.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

What a sweet, sweet tale about a little girl afraid of the dark and a moon bear who is afraid of the light. They comfort each as the spectacular illustrations glow from the page. Highly recommended!

This was a very cute little book. Ettie is a little scared of the dark. Then she meets MoonBear, and now she can’t wait to go to bed. Great book for children.

In this delightfully sweet silent graphic novel, we are following a young girl who’s having trouble sleeping and who creates a polar bear every night to help her fall asleep. Together, they play and cuddle until she falls into the arms of Morpheus.

This book is perfect for young children who don’t know how to read yet as they can make up the story just by looking at the pictures. It is also perfect for any child who’s afraid of the dark as it will teach them to embrace it and make friends with it. Overall, all children who love picture books, graphic novels and/or cute illustrations in general will surely love this book. Not to mention adults who are feeling nostalgic or just enjoy cute things 😉

I felt like Goldilocks because everything about this picture book was just right, from the beautiful cover to the pastel illustrations to the lovely message. It’s Ettie’s bedtime, but night is so scary! But when she meets the magical Moon Bear, she finds a playmate just as frightened by the light as she is of the night. Maybe having a friend is what it takes to reduce the fear. Author-illustrator Clare Helen Welsh crafts an amazing book with nearly no words.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Quarto Publishing and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books in exchange for an honest review.