Amos and the Moon

by Jan Balet (Artist)

Overview

Chock-full of charm and whimsy, this 1948 title tells a simple, endearing tale of a curious little lad on his search for the moon come daylight. As the first picture book by author and illustrator Jan Balet, the imaginative illustrations and lovely storytelling of AMOS AND THE MOON mark the beginning of a lengthy and successful career for the German-American artist.
Originally intended as a Christmas present for his son, Balet’s book became a gift to many more children; and now in its reissue edition, this vintage title will surely delight a new generation of young readers worldwide.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781623260521
Publisher:	Ammo Books, LLC
Publication date:	01/01/2016
Pages:	24
Sales rank:	979,579
Product dimensions:	8.20(w) x 10.50(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	3 - 6 Years

Editorial Reviews

"Amos and the Moon is a lovely introduction to the wondrous movements of the moon and a touching ode to a small, kindly community that's big on personality. Balet outdoes himself with enticing illustrations of the shopkeepers' colorful, artfully composed windows--from Zirimis Pastry Shop to C. Wegelin Swiss Watchmaker--all bursting with curiosities, cakes and clocks." —Shelf Awareness

"This vintage 2015 edition of 'Amos and the Moon' will surely enchant a whole new generation of young readers and their parents. Precise, detailed, humorous illustrations, full of droll whimsey, bedeck every page of the story's adventure. ... This children's classic, with its message of hopeful dreams gently encountering grim reality, deserves to be rediscovered and treasured by new generations." —Midwest Book Review

From the Publisher

07/01/2016
PreS-Gr 1—Originally released in 1948, this reissue retains Balet's original illustrations and layout while using a more updated typeface. Predictably nostalgic in look and feel, the story of Amos searching for the moon is so well constructed that it reads like a more modern tale. Amos wakes one night to find the moon shining in his bedroom mirror and is determined to find it again the next day. He travels around his neighborhood from shopkeeper to shopkeeper, asking if they've seen his moon. The story takes place in an urban setting, with the proprietors representing a diverse group of immigrants, each of whom gives Amos something in lieu of the moon. Finally, his friend Joe Ming, the Chinese laundryman, gives him a cage and advises him to hang it in front of his mirror so he might catch the moon "maybe once or twice a month…and he will be with you for a little while." Illustrated endpapers of a brick apartment house set the scene, and each shop provides plenty of visual delight. VERDICT By addressing the topic of impermanence in life, this book takes on a bit of gravitas, but it is the charming vintage art and relatable story that make it timeless. A quiet, thoughtful one-on-one read.—Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library

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