Moon Bear

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

This is another children's book that reminded me of one of my favorite authors growing up - Jan Brett. This book was adorable and so, so sweet. I loved this story and highly recommend this book!

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This books is fantastic! The illustrations are so beautiful I love the introduction into star gazing while being so imaginative! My daughter will absolutely love this book and we cannot wait to buy a copy! I love how there were few words, but so important and adorable!

Honestly loved this book. The illustrations are magical and thought it was a great way to be creative with the storytelling. You can make this a story with a little one you're reading too and because there are minimal words, allow the little one to be a part of the storytelling with you. If this wasn't available on Netgalley, I might not have thought to look at getting this as a special book to read between me and my niece, but I would absolutely do so now.

Ettie is afraid of the dark. This beautifully illustrated wordless story allows the reader to interpret using their own voice the journey from fear to reassurance.

As with most children the fear of the dark is real. The moonlight shining through draws upon their inquisitive nature to investigate. The moonlight adds a layer of comfort as it is not entirely dark. This books draws upon the constellations visible in the night sky in particular Ursa Major / Ursa Minor (the bears). Together Ettie and the bear explore and understand each other’s fears with Ettie afraid of the dark and the bear afraid of the light. Together they make peace and Ettie is able to sleep and at the end appears eager for bedtime.

My little one liked the illustrations and they allowed him to create additional connections including friendship.

Moon Bear is a richly illustrated children’s books with few written words. The child is afraid of the dark and the moon bear is afraid of the light. Together they comfort each other at bedtime.

I was immediate drawn to Moon Bear over other children's books on NetGalley because of the cover. Though simple, it was the first taste of the artstyle, which is just absolutely gorgeous. It's really cute and quaint, and immediately feels sweet and comforting. The magic elements are also really pretty and whimsical. Plus, I think this has universal/unisex appeal which is great.

A stunning book! This is truly beautiful from the premise to the illustrations. The little adventures with the bear and the child waking the next day to rush through, eager to get to bed brought tears to my eyes. There are maybe eight words in this book and truly, that’s all that’s needed as the gorgeous illustrations tell the story in the most delightful way. I need to buy this for my kids 🌙 🐻

Moon Bear is a beautifullu illustrated story about a child scared to go to sleep. The child sees the magical moonlight come through their window and they create an imaginary bear that plays with them until morning.

This book was so sweet! The illustrations themselves were so beautiful. The book gives children the opportunity to use their imagination through interpretation of the illustrations. This is a great bedtime story!

Thank you to Clare Helen Welsh and NetGalley for the ARC.

Firstly I would like to thank Clare Helen Welsh , Quarto Publishing Group - Frances Lincoln Children's Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of ' Moon Bear ' to read and review.

Due for publication at the beginning of June 2024,
This heart-warming and enchanting story follows a night in the life of a young girl called Ettie who is afraid of the dark until she meets Moon Bear who is terrified of the light. The story is all about overcoming fears and looking at the situation from a different perspective. It is a charming and engaging tale about friendship and that every problem can be overcome when you work together.

The book itself is heavily image based with very little written word , but every vision is so painstakingly detailed. It is beautifully illustrated by Carolina T Godina who has noticeably poured her love onto every page. The story behind the images is very imaginative and I certainly believe it would be empowering to small children who fear the unknown every time the lights are turned off .

#MoonBear #NetGalley

This almost wordless picture book is just one of the most beautifully illustrated ones I have ever read. There is a touch of magic in every page of the story. Maybe it is also full of magic and refers to the moon, it reminds me of another picture book (not wordless though), "The Moon Zoo" by Carol Ann Duffy. I love this and will use it in my courses soon.

What a lovely book! The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and the story they convey is so sweet. Definitely going to buy this for my niece, she will love it

What a lovely picture book. I like that this is almost wordless and you can make up your own ideas along the way.
Beautiful illustrations too.
Can't wait to add this to our library!

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

I received an advanced copy of this from NetGalley. This book will definitely be making its way not only into my classroom library, but our home library as well. As an almost completely wordless book, this gives children the opportunity to use their imagination to “read” the book. What a great story to read over and over again!

This book is a warm cozy hug. It does an amazing job of introducing young readers to the beauty of the nature world, ways to calm one’s fears, and the power of imagination. The glittering shimmers of the moonlight turn into a magical, comforting bear that keeps Ettie company through the night. The art is soft and playful and draws readers in. Most of the story is told through pictures rather than words making it very accessible to young readers and a great opportunity for parents/guardians to introduce these concepts to their children verbally with the support of images.

Beautifully illustrated story about the bond between a child and a bear. The illustrations are vivid and powerful in telling the story. A cute insight into the life of the child as they become excited about seeing their bear friend.

I’ve never read a book with less than ten words that struck my heart as much as this one did.
Ettie is a sweet girl that from this book I think learns a bit more about independence and routine.
The illustrations are 100%. I love them. So cute. It was what initially drew me to this title and I was not disappointed.
The themes within this book are: loneliness, companionship, imagination, and routines.
The writing style is simple and to the point with focus on dialogue. Nothing excessive. It gives the reader opportunity to talk through this book in whatever language suits them- especially since more people are now multilingual. There’ll be a different interpretation every time either from the adult or from the child reading it.
That is the reason I would recommend this book. The opportunity to find your own Moon Bear and to become free of what’s written in the pages to engage with the book as much or as little is possible on any given day, at any given age.
-Umikan

Moon Bear is a stunning picture book about a little girl who creates a bear friend from moon dust. Words are sparse and the illustrations and layout reminds me of the classic children's book, The Snowman by Raymond Briggs. Each illustration tells a story about Ettie's day. Children and parents will be entranced by this one. I adored this magical book!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Wow this was such a lovely book, that gave my son (4yo) a chance to put his own words on the situations. And invited us to talk about how we are all different and also all have different fears.
Filled with beautiful illustrations.

Super sweet read that is perfect for younger kids. It's a great bed time book and the artwork is really sweet. I would definitely recommend it!

This gorgeous book is filled with beautiful illustrations with a huge scope for storytelling by both adults and children. It will gently lead to discussions about feelings and fears.
Its particularly good for Key Stages 1 and 2 but I believe it could easily be used for older children too.
I highly recommend Moon Bear and can't wait to bring a copy to our book corner.
Thanks to Netgalley.

An incredibly beautiful illustrated children’s book with a spark of quiet magic. This wonderful book illustrates the magic of the moon and imagination and the reader gets to create their own story. It filled me with warmth. Thank you Net Galley for an opportunity to review this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved it!

Like most young children, Ettie is afraid of the dark. She meets a friend who is afraid of the light. They each help each other through their fears and develop. A friendship that helps him get through worrisome times. Gorgeous Illustrations!

Adorable, creative, and utterly unique. My heart has been captured. The illustrations were beautiful and charming. I had a stuffed animal as a kid that helped me be brave in the dark, too. Hardly any words, but there didn't need to be - the images spoke loudly.

What a sweet, kindhearted, hopeful story, almost completely in illustrations! A young girl, fearful of the night, gains a special, not-quite-imaginary, playmate friend. Guaranteed to warm the hearts of little ones, a perfect bedtime story to share!

Reading this book feels like I'm re-reading a book from my long-ago childhood, even though it's new. That's how cozy, familiar, and comforting it is. The gentle, warmly-tinted illustrations create an entire world inside the child's bedroom, where a friendly and curious bear born out of moon-dust becomes the child's new friend. Together, they explore as the child sees everyday items through the bear's eyes, and finally, they together find comfort and security where they can safely go to sleep. It's a heartwarming message that will be comforting to any child who struggles to go to sleep at night in a dark bedroom by themselves. The lack of text was a brilliant decision, allowing us to focus on the bond of friendship between the child and bear, without language getting in the way. After all, haven't we all had the experience of a friendship where words aren't always necessary? This book captures that feeling in a lovely, sweet way.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this eARC for unbiased review. This review will be cross-posted to my social media accounts closer to the book release date.

Moon Bear is a story about a young girl afraid of the dark. However, when she meets a moon beat that is afraid of the light, she starts to become excited for bed.

This was a really cute book! It was mostly illustrations. The illustrations were very cute and pretty. I think kids will love looking at them! I think kids will really enjoy this story.

Thanks so much to netgalley and Quarto publishing for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Super cute and love the artwork. Great for littles that are afraid of the dark, and have trouble sleeping at night. This book depict me a little girl who is afraid of the dark befriends a bear who is afraid of the light. The book shows them learning together that they do not need to be afraid.

Oh, this book is SO So wonderful!
Firstly, those glittering illustrations from Carolina T Godina (whose colour palette is amazing!) light up the page as our little protagonist finds it hard to settle in the darkness. There's the lovdly humourous touches - such as bear trying on her slippers. And ultimately, the lovely gentle way it shows how each of our fears may be different but we can help each other through them.

An exquisite, almost wordless tale, filled with warmth and courage.
Emma Perry

This was the sweetest book! I have a special place in my heart for polar bears, so I especially loved this book. The illustrations are gorgeous. Whimsical with muted colors. Just beautiful! I loved that the book had minimal words and the reader can use their imagination. I can’t wait to buy my son a physical copy of this book!

A beautiful, comforting book. Light on words, this story is mainly told through pictures. The illustrations in this book are totally enchanting - they remind me of the illustrations in Raymond Briggs' books in the best way possible - the glitter/light illustrations are particularly magical and the polar bear is adorable.

Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Ettie is afraid of the dark, until one night she sees a sliver of light from the moon shining through the curtain. Ettie dances in the moonlight, connecting the stars to draw a bear, who comes to life to play and explore with Ettie.

Told mostly through images, this beautiful story tells of Ettie and the moon bear helping each other to face their fears. This is such an accessible format for young children, and a beautiful way for them to talk through the story of Ettie becoming brave, and being excited to go to bed the next night.

The illustrations are stunning, perfectly capturing the energy, movement and emotion of Ettie and the moon bear's journey. This is such a wonderful read to share and explore with young children who are learning to face their fears, and anyone who enjoys books such as The Snowman, by Raymond Briggs.

Thank you Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Gorgeous, fanciful illustrations bring light and magic to this largely wordless children’s book. Stardust and moonlight become animated into a playful bear at night, providing young Ettie with a bedtime companion. This is an enchanting tale that is both sweet and fleeting.

Such a sweet book! Nearly all picture and wordless, the illustrator, Carolina T. Godina, cannot be praised high enough. The eponymous moon bear is the just the cutest little one and the stardust/moonlight he's made of adds magic sprinkles.
Moon Bear is a quick, magical read. 4,5/5⭐

Thank you, NetGalley and Quarto Publishing plc., for the chance to read a copy in exchange for an honest review! All viewpoints are entirely my own.

What a magical book! There are only 8 words in this book, but that is part of the magic in my opinion. The illustrations are so beautiful and filled with detail. Oftentimes my niece tells me to hush while reading to her, so this book will be perfect for her. I can't wait to gift her this book and see her imagination take over as she creates her own captions.

I received an ARC from Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a cute, heartwarming, beautifully illustrated book! I love the idea of the little girl seeing a bear in the constellations and tracing the stars to make an outline. The bear joins her to explore new things. This book is adorable! I also liked the fact the next night, there were other animals in the night sky. A spin off series with other animals coming? Hope so!

Very simple book, very loveable characters and a child excitable to go to bed to see if they can see the bear again. Loved it!

Moon Bear is such a heartwarming story! This book is perfect to read to those who need that extra help with the dark.
I especially enjoy the night time theme, since I'm teaching about the moon and night time with my first graders. Ellie and Moon Bear have such an endearing connection!

I highly recommend this book as a Read Aloud or as a bedtime story.

Thank you Netgalley for this gifted book!

Moon Bear is a gorgeous non word story featuring a young girl afraid of the dark and a bear afraid of the light. It’s a magical journey into the mind of a child. I can see so many uses for engaging kids with the book.
The illustrations are calming and mesmerizing. I enjoyed the panel art and it easily flowed into one activity to another.
Highly recommended for young children to help them with language and creativity by making up their own story.

Absolutely gorgeous picture book. I can't wait to get a copy for my library and I think this will be a wonderful book for reading together with a class and telling the story.

what an absolutely pleasant read. I read within a few minutes and the book left me feeling so cosy and happy. Kids would love it for sure but so did I as an adult. The artwork is really cute and pretty and it's admirable how it managed to tell such a wholesome story with almost no words! I would love to own a copy of this whenever it is available in my country. I'll be looking forward to other works from the author as well. I'll read/show this book to the kids in my life. a perfect five star read!!! Thank you so much netgalley, the publisher, and the author for letting me have a review copy.

Moon Bear is a beautifully illustrated book that relies on pictures to communicate it's story. When Mommy puts Ettie to bed and turns out the lights, Ettie's fear of the dark takes over. But one night, a crack in the curtains lets the light of the moon in, and the light comes alive to introduce Moon Bear in Ettie's bedroom. While Ettie is afraid of the dark, Moon Bear is afraid of the light. In their playful night together, Ettie helps Moon Bear overcome it's fear through gentle play with things like flashlights and string lights, while Moon Bear helps Ettie see that the darkness isn't so terrible. Moon Bear has returned to the sky by the time Ettie wakes up the next morning, but her excitement to see them again has her excited for bedtime the following night.

This beautiful story has rich illustrations and will allow for creative storytelling and for children to come up with their own ways to explore and express what is happening in the story. It communicates how friendship and support can help you overcome your fears and makes it clear that you don't have to do things alone.

This is a beautiful picture book. The illustrations are wonderfully done and very colourful and adorable.

The illustrations are so beautiful I love the introduction into star gazing while being so imaginative! I love how there were few words, but so important and adorable!

I received and ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a completely delightful almost wordless picture book. Perfect for animal lovers of all ages, my daughter would go absolutely nuts for this book. The art is breathtaking, the moon bear is so sweet, and the little girl's enthusiasm at their friendship is so satsifying.

This book is absolutely GORGEOUS. Some of the most beautiful illustrations I've ever seen. And a bold choice to have so few words throughout. Definitely recommending (and purchasing) for parents of toddlers and reluctant readers.

Totally visual delight! The story is that of a little one who falls asleep to become beguiled by the stars in the sky, especially the Ursa.
The illustrations by Carolina T. Godina are multiple, imaginative, colorful, and representative.
There are remarkably few words but it is great for sharing WITH someone of any age, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school, hospital, or your local public library!
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from the
Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books | Frances Lincoln Children's Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Available 04 Jun 2024 #NightSky

Moon Bear is the perfect picture book for a cozy and comforting read. There are very few words, but this simplicity encourages the reader to use their imagination to create their own story. The illustrations are charming and create a magical atmosphere for the story to unfold. It’s easy to imagine Moon Bear becoming a regular entry in bedtime reading hour.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

Although this book has very few words, the message is clear. The illustrations were beautiful and the story was magical. Perfect book for little ones who are visual learners!!

Being afraid of the dark is a common bedtime worry for little ones, including Ettie. Every night, when it is time for bed, she feels overwhelmed by a cloak of darkness and shadows.

One night, a chink in her curtains allows the silver light of the moon to glimmer into her room and when she reaches out her hand, it is kissed by moon dust. Using this glittering magic, Ettie traces the star constellations in the sky and to her delight and surprise, Ursa Major comes to life as a gorgeous moon bear, right inside Ettie’s bedroom. Overjoyed, Ettie and her new friend dance around the room, play and build a den to sleep in. When Ettie puts on her torch, the moon bear shrinks away, seemingly afraid of the light. Between them, they find strength to face their fears and when Ettie finally falls asleep, the moon bear is by her side. When she rushes to bed the next evening, will he return?

Whether this almost wordless story is meant to be representative of Ettie’s imagination or just a beautiful bedtime story, we don’t know. Is the moon bear her imaginary friend, found by stargazing at Ursa Major and Ursa Minor each night instead of going to sleep? The lack of words mean that we are able to decide for ourselves or alter the narrative to suit the audience we read it to. Encouraging visual communication, it takes us on a journey from fear of the dark to embracing what it brings into visibility, the magical light of the moon and the beautiful constellations of stars. Richly illustrated, this whimsical premise is brought to life by artwork that flood the pages with light that bounces off the paper and somehow sparkles like the stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and FLC for sending this eBook for review consideration. All opinions are our own.

I adore these illustrations!!! I love the magic in the mostly text less book. I love how they are so open for interpretation, and leave room for imagination!!

I particularly love the playfulness of the beautiful bear illustrations of the bear in the stars, and the bears coming to life. Truly beautiful!!

Thank you!!

Moon Bear is an enchanting sweet little book about friendship, and more importantly, selflessness. The book relies solely on illustrations, which are wonderful! So gentle, tasteful and I adored how light and playing with light is depicted. It reminded me of Lucy Fleming's Ella's Night Lights. The pictures are detailed and realistic enough to entice young children, yet artistic enough to foster the taste for art in the future.

The story is simple, as would be expected in a book for preschoolers, but the ending was surprising and moving.

The lack of text is the book's strongest suit. It allows children's creativity run free, which is fitting for a story of a little girl whose creativity brings light to life thanks to her sparkling fingers. The child can interpret and "read" the story their own way, unrestricted by the limits of a written text.

The book also has a strong educational potential and can be used to practice storytelling with preschoolers, expand their vocabulary or practice identifying the emotions and talking about dealing with them.

Would definitely recommend for 2+ children.

The illustrations in this book were absolutely stunning, with my personal favorites being the constellations and the lights/stars throughout the pages. The storyline is clear and easy to follow, which makes this great for a range of ages. My youngest children are ages 8 & 10, and it was still captivating without many words and not too young for them. This book allows the reader to create their own dialogue and their own guided story. Anyone that is looking for a unique children’s book with whimsy and beauty would love Moon Bear.

Feel free follow my social media accounts, I will be sharing my review of this book prior to the publishing date.
https://linktr.ee/britneybarlow

Thank you to Quarto Publishing Group for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

With gorgeous illustrations and a sweet story, Moon Bear is sure to help little ones fall asleep at night!

This book is one of the most effectively illustrated with the concept it is carrying. This is told via a little girl Ellie who is afraid of the dark and whenever her mother calls her for a bedtime she shrinked in her posture thinking how she bears that all over the night. But in one such night she thought to have a moonlite dots shaped like light bear. Here she got to know that, that light bear fears light.
This is a wordless book but says a lot about overcoming fears that we carry inside us. My parents, in my childhood make me overcome such fears by saying that if you are fearing from something maybe that too afraid of you, so don't ever be afraid but be strong to win that fear.

Moon Bear tells the story of Ettie, a little girl who is afraid of the dark. With the help if a magical Moon Bear who appears one night while Ettie is afraid, she not only learns that the dark is not scary but also makes a new friend.

The illustrations in this book are absolutely beautiful. As a mother of a toddler who enjoys creating her own stories, I liked that the book had fewer words and was based more around the illustrations. I feel as though this type of book would be incredibly helpful for children who enjoy telling their own stories and struggle with reading the pages. I thought the overall story was beautiful .

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

An adorable book i will be showing my niece and nephew. I’ve always loved the moon and bears and the cover and title instantly caught my attention.

This is such a unique children’s book. Beautiful, enchanting illustrations and sweet bedtime story.

My 7 year old loved it! ❤️

Moon bear was the perfect little picture book to look at right before bed. 
A little girl is afraid of the dark until she makes a bear friend from the stars.
My son loved it and the art is beautiful.

This is the most beautiful little book with soft and enchanting illustrations. I loved the minimalist approach to a bedtime story, and would gladly buy this for anybody with a small child afraid of the dark (or adult looking for a cute picture book).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

Wow what a unique concept for a children’s story book. The perfect bedtime book and a feast for the eyes.

There are practically no words in this book, only enchanting illustrations. I was worried at first that the story would not come across but it is the perfect story for your little one to form their own interpretations.

Will definitely be buying a copy for our house.

I cannot say how much I absolutely love this book! Moon Bear is an adorable, nearly wordless, picture book. The stories my students can make up with these illustrations are going to be so much fun. I love the twist at the end.

Thank you NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books, and Clare Helen Welsh for the early access copy of Moon Bear.

Moon Bear is a beautifully illustrated wordless story of a child’s journey of overcoming a fear of darkness and learning to love her bedtime. Moon Bear starts with Ettie’s mother letting her know it is time for bed and goes through Ettie’s bedtime routine. When Ettie gets to bed, she appears to be afraid of the dark. When suddenly a beautiful ray of light appears from the window and gives Ettie the ability to spread light. When Ettie spreads the light across the stars an illuminated polar bear appears in her room and the fun between the two begins. When Ettie wakes, she is missing the joy she had throughout the night and cannot wait for the next nights adventure.

Moon Bear does a fantastic job of illustrating accents of light by using various forms of light sources. There are some illustrations with subtle light like the alarm clock in Ettie’s room, while other illustrations show larger sources of light like the flashlight, bedroom light, and moons glow.

This will be a lovely book that can be used as a tool for children to express their own interpretations.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC.

This was a beautiful picture book, perfect for young children. It has the perfect illustration style, it had me smiling at every single picture.
"Moon Bear" does a wonderful job of depicting fear of the dark (that most children have at some point) while finding magic and comfort in the stars and moonlight.
I wish I had picture books, like this one, growing up.

This book feels like a teddy bear's hug.
It's perfect for an evening during a cold winter. The illustrations are incredibly soft (the colors, the designs), matching the story perfectly. They're also very well detailed in my opinion. I got immediately hit by a wave of tenderness looking at Ettie. I imagined reading this to my kids while cuddling under a big blanket. I do have to say I have a weak spot for stories about imaginary friends/animals/stars and this one totally met my expectations.
I think my favorite thing is the design of the little bear but honestly - everything is quite perfect. Thank you for allowing me to witness such a cute friendship.