Field Trip to the Moon

by John Hare

The story begins with the cover of this marvelous wordless picture book as children... read more

The story begins with the cover of this marvelous wordless picture book as children file onto a rocket painted familiar school bus yellow and black. One of them dawdles, sketchbook and crayons in hand. While most of the class later follows an eager, energetic teacher/chaperone across crevasses and craters, this child finds a quiet place to draw the blue-and-white earth as seen from the gray-scape of the moon. Falling asleep, the child awakens to discover they’ve been left behind. With only a sketchbook for solace, the child draws, unaware of the single eye, and then series of eyes attached to moon-colored bodies, watching. Who can resist a box of bright crayons? Not these creatures, which go from fearful to frolicsome when the child shares them, retreating into hiding only when the school bus spaceship returns with the frantic teacher/ chaperone. A tight-hugged reunion and hilarious misunderstanding follow. Acrylic illustrations masterfully convey emotions through body language—faces are never seen under space helmets—in a story that playfully, poignantly, and profoundly affirms art’s essential role in expression and connection, whatever the future holds. (Ages 5–9)

© Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2020

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