Hello, friends! Our book today is Nonni’s Moon by Julia Inserro and Lucy Smith, a sweet tale about connecting with loved ones from far away.

Beanie lives with her parents and twin baby siblings in an unspecified country in the Middle East, a great distance from her “Nonni” – grandmother – back in the States. On the phone with her, Beanie laments that they will not see each other again for some months. So Nonni and Beanie resolve to find a way to communicate every day, eventually agreeing on something they can both see despite their distance: the moon. They agree to send each other messages through the moon, but as night falls, Beanie cannot see the message her grandmother sent. Her mother encourages her to quiet her mind and listen for it, and Beanie begins to hear…

Very, very sweet. I loved the idea that a person can send their love through a celestial constant like the moon (and if you’re wondering “what about nights where there is no moon?”, so was I, and the story covers it BEAUTIFULLY, weaving it into another great metaphor for love). There’s also the interesting peek into daily life in a Middle Eastern country for an expat/mixed-race family, and I sort of wish this had been expanded on a bit, perhaps in an afterward. The illustrations lack a bit of polish, but still feature warm characters and an excellent attention to detail. And while the story lags in some places, the unique premise and lovely sentiment are worth the investment. The length was fine on the side of long, and JJ was occasionally squirmy, but she loved the art throughout. Overall, a touching story of connection and love, and it’s Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the author in exchange for an honest review.)