Nigel and the Moon

by Antwan Eady, Gracey Zhang (Illustrator)

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

Antwan Eady's picture book debut is a celebration of individuality, creativity and self-confidence. Nigel has his whole life ahead of him, but what will he make of himself? His dreams are grand, but his path forward feels full of doubt and societal norms that may get in his way. Gracey Zhang (Lala's Words) breathes beautiful life into Nigel with her gorgeous illustrations on each mural-esque spread.

From debut author Antwan Eady and artist Gracey Zhang comes a glowing tale about the young dreaming big. A perfect story to demonstrate how pride in where we come from can bring a shining confidence.

When Nigel looks up at the moon, his future is bright. He imagines himself as…an astronaut, a dancer, a superhero, too!

Among the stars, he twirls. With pride, his chest swells. And his eyes, they glow. Nigel is the most brilliant body in the sky.

But it’s Career Week at school, and Nigel can’t find the courage to share his dreams. It’s easy to whisper them to the moon, but not to his classmates—especially when he already feels out of place. 

* A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year * Kids' Indie Next List Pick * A SLJ Best Book of 2022 *

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063056282
Publisher:	HarperCollins Publishers
Publication date:	02/15/2022
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	2,971
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 11.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Antwan Eady is an author and a dreamer. Originally from Garnett, South Carolina, he spent many nights whispering his dreams; now he proudly shares them with the world. A graduate of Clemson University, Antwan now lives in Savannah, Georgia.

Gracey Zhang is an illustrator, born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. She received her BA in illustration from Rhode Island School of Design and now resides in Brooklyn, New York. She is the writer and illustrator of Lala’s Words. She spends most of her time among scattered papers and ink pots, and when she’s not at her desk, you can find her looking out train windows, watching and listening.

Editorial Reviews

★ 12/13/2021

In this expansive exploration of childhood hope, a Black boy named Nigel shares his aspirations—to be an astronaut, a dancer, a superhero—with the moon each night but struggles with whether to share his closely held wishes Earth-side. During his class’s career week, he can’t find a ballerino who resembles him in any of the library’s books, and when he shadows his postal carrier mother “house after house, block after block,” the moon feels far away. Worried that he’s wishing for too much, and aware that his parents “don’t have fancy jobs” like those of his largely pink-skinned classmates’ parents, Nigel avoids offering up his hopes publicly. But when his folks stop by to speak about their professions, delighting his classmates and mentioning “the best job we’ve ever had,” Nigel finds courage to move beyond comparison. Hitting notes of hope, fear, love, and pride while subtly tackling themes of class, gender expectations, and race, Eady’s debut is matched beat for layered beat by Zhang’s (Lala’s Words) fluid ink, gouache, and watercolor illustrations, which depict Nigel as small but trusting against a looming, ponderous moon. A loving exhortation to “Dream big... And be proud of who you are.” Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Penny Moore, Aevitas Creative. Illustrator’s agent: Hannah Mann, Writers House. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

This story radiates a quiet power. Poetic language paired with bold brushstrokes reveals the magic of the night sky. Nothing is more empowering to children than loving adults telling them to ‘dream big’ and ‘be proud of who you are.’ [A] stirring tale of self-acceptance and parental support.”  — School Library Journal (starred review)

"Hitting notes of hope, fear, love, and pride while subtly tackling themes of class, gender expectations, and race, Eady’s debut is matched beat for layered beat by Zhang’s (Lala’s Words) fluid ink, gouache, and watercolor illustrations, which depict Nigel as small but trusting against a looming, ponderous moon. A loving exhortation to 'Dream big... And be proud of who you are.'"  — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“This book will make you tear up. It is a must-read for every person that has ever held dreams close to their hearts, whispered them to the sky, or lived to make them real.”  — Joanna Ho, New York Times bestselling author of Eyes that Kiss in the Corners

"This book made my heart swell to the size of the moon. Nigel and the Moon is destined to become a classic that will inspire generations of readers to find the beauty in their day-to-day lives while also looking to the skies to dream big."  — Minh Lê, author of Drawn Together and Lift

"A beautiful book. Eady’s sensitive text and Zhang’s gorgeous pictures combine in a story that conveys the richness of children’s daily lives and the cosmic splendor of their imaginations."  — Mac Barnett, New York Times Bestselling author of The Extra Yarn

“Nigel is today’s Peter from The Snowy Day—this book will surely be an instant classic. I’m pleased to have met Nigel through his story, and I know that every kid with “dreams so bright” will be inspired to share their dreams with the world, too.”  — Don Tate, author-illustrator of William Still and His Freedom Stories

“Listeners…will empathize with the challenges that can make a school week drag out, and youngsters will also realize that Zhang’s luminous moon is just a window away, willing to share confidences.” — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Glowing ink, gouache, and watercolor illustrations present deep blue spreads with a shining moon, in which Nigel flies through the night sky, sitting on and talking to the moon.”  — Booklist

Praise for the Nigel and the Moon audiobook: "This heartwarming story of authenticity shows children it is ok to share their truths aloud during the day or whisper them to the moon at night. Beautifully narrated." — Booklist

From the Publisher

Nigel is today’s Peter from The Snowy Day—this book will surely be an instant classic. I’m pleased to have met Nigel through his story, and I know that every kid with “dreams so bright” will be inspired to share their dreams with the world, too.” 

Don Tate

"A beautiful book. Eady’s sensitive text and Zhang’s gorgeous pictures combine in a story that conveys the richness of children’s daily lives and the cosmic splendor of their imaginations." 

Mac Barnett

Listeners…will empathize with the challenges that can make a school week drag out, and youngsters will also realize that Zhang’s luminous moon is just a window away, willing to share confidences.

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

Glowing ink, gouache, and watercolor illustrations present deep blue spreads with a shining moon, in which Nigel flies through the night sky, sitting on and talking to the moon.” 

Booklist

This book will make you tear up. It is a must-read for every person that has ever held dreams close to their hearts, whispered them to the sky, or lived to make them real.” 

Joanna Ho

"This book made my heart swell to the size of the moon. Nigel and the Moon is destined to become a classic that will inspire generations of readers to find the beauty in their day-to-day lives while also looking to the skies to dream big." 

Minh Lê

Glowing ink, gouache, and watercolor illustrations present deep blue spreads with a shining moon, in which Nigel flies through the night sky, sitting on and talking to the moon.” 

Booklist

★ 12/01/2021

PreS-Gr 3—Nigel shares his dreams with the moon: to be an astronaut, a dancer, and a superhero. In the harsh light of day, Nigel shrinks into himself. During career week, he is too afraid of his classmates' reactions to share his aspirations or the fact that his parents do not have "fancy jobs." Nigel's parents are the true superheroes of this story. They are entirely accepting and supportive of Nigel and his dreams. Speaking to his class, they highlight the value of their jobs, but also proclaim parenting Nigel to be "the best job we've ever had." This unwavering public support finally gives Nigel the courage to share his true self. This story radiates a quiet power. Poetic language paired with bold brushstrokes and saturated colors reveals the magic of the night sky. The juxtaposition of the prosaic daytime scenes, often set against a stark white background, exemplifies the difference between Nigel's nighttime and daytime selves. Nigel is the only child with dark brown skin in his class. While a connection between his race and his anxious isolation is never made explicit in the text, the illustrations suggest a link. Nigel is frustrated that "a dancer like him cannot be found," while looking at a library book featuring one of Degas's dancers, his arm across the page a contrast to the dancer's pale form. The true beauty of this book is the potential breadth of connection. Nigel's worried face by day and his freedom by night will allow numerous readers to empathize and connect their own varied experiences of anxiety and ostracization. Caretakers should be inspired by the recognition that nothing is more empowering to children than loving adults telling them to "dream big" and "be proud of who you are." VERDICT This stirring tale of self-acceptance and parental support is recommended for first purchase.—Elizabeth Lovsin, Deerfield P. L., IL

School Library Journal

2021-12-03
Nigel, a brown-skinned young boy, peers out of his bedroom window and shares his dreams with the moon.

His desire is to become an astronaut, a dancer, and a superhero. With the moon, “his dreams are safe.” During career week at school, his class goes to the library to read about various occupations, but Nigel does not find any books with dancers who look like him. When his classmates share their vocational aspirations, Nigel feels shy to admit that he wants to be a superhero. That night, he confesses his fear to the moon: “What if I wish to be too many things?” When his teacher asks the class to share what their parents do for a living, Nigel is ashamed to speak up since his parents “don’t have fancy jobs.” So, he is stunned when his parents make a surprise visit to his class to speak about their careers and prove to be a big hit with the students. Relieved and proud, Nigel finally gains the courage to share his dreams with his classmates. Zhang’s ink, gouache, and watercolor illustrations are charming and thoughtful, effectively capturing both Nigel’s anxieties and his fanciful inner world. However, readers may notice tokenism at play since Nigel and his parents are the only brown-skinned characters in the book.

A poignant story designed to help young readers feel good about themselves and where they come from. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews