Sing to the Moon

This book is such a delight! I was provided it as an ARC for Net Galley for which I am extremely grateful, as my four year old daughter has asked me to read it to her every night since I downloaded it. This book tells the story of a child and their grandparent, spending a rainy Ugandan day doing things around the house and sharing stories. It highlights the beauty of ordinary days with the family that we love, and also encourages feats of imagination and dreams when the day ends. The illustrations are vibrant, the story is warm, and it is lovely encouragement to enjoy the the joys of everyday, regardless of the weather. My only (very small) gripe was that the rhymes weren’t always intuitive, and so sometimes I stumbled a bit with the rhythm while reading out loud.

This is a lovely tender rhyming book to share with a child at bedtime or anytime. Often in our busy world we don't know how to spend our time on a rainy day when we have no choice but to hunker down and have to remain inside. This book is inspiring as it passes on the almost forgotten traditional of spending quality time together ... face-to-face (not on FaceTime) while the rain relentlessly pelts down outside our window!

A dreary rainy day has landed in Uganda and a grandfather (Jjajja) and his beloved grandson spend the cloistered day enjoying each other's company.

"If I had one wish, I would reach the stars, then ride a supernova straight to Mars!"
"Jjajja tells me, "Sing to the moon," and perhaps my wish will be granted soon."

Jjajja tells intriguing stories of his childhood friends, receives help cleaning up around home, and together they prepare a nutritious fish stew to enjoy at dinner. The two experience night adventures together by reading books about bold kings and crooks by candlelight. After the rain has subsided they wander outside under the stars "where the night croons." Cuddling together ...

"Jjajja reminds me that I'm always loved... by even the brightest of stars up above."

At bedtime Jjajja says goodnight, plants a kiss, and his last words spoken quietly are... "Sing to the moon."

The illustrations are whimsical and magical which I love and the colour pallet is soothing and calm. I recommend this book.