Dear Moon

Max and Ely are best friends. The time is quickly approaching for Ely to go to the hospital, something both boys are utterly determined to delay. Together, they devise a plan to halt the moon in its rotation. If it no longer moves then neither will time; they decide. The two eagerly construct a rocket to launch into space to capture the moon. After a couple of failed attempts, Max promises Ely he will never give up, “not even ‘til the end of the end of the very end of the world,” he says. The inevitable day arrives, and they sadly say their goodbyes. After the passage of time, Ely returns, and though his hair is gone and his body is weak, the two spend one last, treasured day together before the heavens call Ely home.

This is a beautiful, poignant story about friendship, adventure, loss, grief, and acceptance. Author Stephen Wunderli does a brilliant job addressing a difficult subject in a thoughtful, unique way that will touch the hearts of young children and adults alike. Maria Luisa Di Gravio‘s illustrations bring the text alive with their detail and subtle but darkened hues. The plethora of emotions this masterful story evokes are palpable, ranging from joy to sadness and then on to acceptance. The underlying message that life is sprinkled with unexpected twists and turns, many of which are uncontrollable, bleeds through the pages with clarity, as does the idea that every moment spent with loved ones should be cherished.