Almost a Full Moon

by Hawksley Workman, Jensine Eckwall (Illustrator)

Overview

Almost a Full Moon is a warm-hearted story of family, community, food and home. A boy and his grandmother host a gathering in their small cabin in the middle of winter. Friends travel from near and far, and some new friends even turn up. The walls of the cabin are elastic and the soup pot bottomless; all are welcome. Based on the lyrics of Hawksley Workman's song from his holiday album Almost a Full Moon, this book evokes both the cold and the coziness of a winter's night: crisp clean air, sparkling snow, the light of the moon, welcoming windows, glowing candles, family and friends. The spare text is beautifully complemented with the rich illustrations of Jensine Eckwall, a new talent to Tundra. She brings beauty and a hint of magic to Workman's evocative lyrics; together, they create a world and a night that will enchant readers of all ages.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781770498716
Publisher:	Tundra
Publication date:	09/06/2016
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.10(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

HAWKSLEY WORKMAN is an award-winning Canadian singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, writer, and actor. This is his first book for children. The author lives in Toronto.

Editorial Reviews

★ 10/17/2016
Singer-songwriter Workman uses the title track from a 2001 EP as the foundation for his first children’s book, a beguiling story of people coming together one winter night. It’s also a notable debut for Eckwall, whose delicate paintings transport readers to a remote cottage shared by a gray-haired woman and a boy. Together, they prepare a meal (“You stir a moment while I put more wood in the stove./ Let’s make some soup ’cause the weather is turning cold”) before a diverse array of guests arrive, including a brown-skinned family of four and a redheaded girl who rides up on a wolf, tilting an already-magical setting into something even more fantastical. Ages 3–7. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"Singer-songwriter Workman uses the title track from a 2001 EP as the foundation for his first children’s book, a beguiling story of people coming together one winter night. It’s also a notable debut for Eckwall, whose delicate paintings transport readers to a remote cottage shared by a gray-haired woman and a boy. Together, they prepare a meal before a diverse array of guests arrive, including a brown-skinned family of four and a redheaded girl who rides up on a wolf, tilting an already-magical setting into something even more fantastical." - Starred Review, Publishers Weekly

“The rhythms are beguiling and carefree, never once veering into sing-song, and it begs to be read-aloud, especially at this time of year when we gather with loved ones.” - Kirkus Reivews


“The rhymed text reads fluid and effortless, and the illustrations are delicate and cozy. Beautiful bedtime story.” - Reviews in Chalk blog
 
“She brings beauty and a hint of magic to Workman's evocative lyrics; together, they create a world and a night that will enchant readers of all ages.” - 49th Shelf blog

From the Publisher

2016-07-02
A song made into a picture book rings the dinner bell for community togetherness. Without musical accompaniment, Workman’s lyrics seem a bit forced in their rhythm, rhyme, and repetition, but Eckwall’s illustrations help transform them into a story about a child and a woman making and sharing soup. They are both white and appear to be a grandmother and her grandchild, though this is nowhere specified in the text. The community that gathers with them in their home for soup on a wintry day is a diverse one, as people with various skin tones, hair textures, and attire come to sit at the table. One child wearing a feathered cape arrives astride a wolf and accompanied by a veritable peaceable kingdom of forest animals. This characterization tips the visual narrative into the realm of fantasy, which, while playful, risks undermining the real-world validity of the central themes of community and food-sharing. On the other hand, there is much to appreciate about the watercolors from debut illustrator Eckwall, which include a close-up, gorgeous spread of soup ingredients that looks like something out of Cook’s Illustrated as well as cozy interior scenes of people gathered together juxtaposed with out-of-doors settings of their journeys to the house. Cozy. (Picture book. 3-6)

Kirkus Reviews

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