Book Review: The FingerNail Moon

Reviewed by Joelene Pynnonen

Science meets whimsy in this enchanting, adventurous children’s picture book.

Maddy loves science. Clouds, planets, stars. More than anything, she loves the moon. She knows all of its phases. How it waxes and wanes, rises with the night and falls with the day. The fingernail moon catches her imagination most of all. A mere sliver of a moon, hanging in the night-time sky, seeming close enough to ride on.

Maddy knows that it isn’t. She knows that it is thousands of miles away. Unreachable. Until one day, the fingernail moon appears outside her window, larger than life and close enough to touch. It has heard all the things Maddy has said about it, and it wants to meet the little girl who loves it so much. Even better, the fingernail moon wants to go on an adventure!

The FingerNail Moon is a picture book with in-depth, whimsical ideas that would suit children three and older with more developed attention spans. It’s a wonderful introduction for children into the magic of science. Curious kids will love to learn about the phases of the moon, the different types of clouds, and the planets in our solar system as they explore with Maddy. This is the perfect book to encourage aspiring little scientists to explore and question the world around them in a fun, engaging way.

As with all picture books, the writing only makes up a fraction of the whole. The illustrations are something that the tale hangs on. Luckily, in The FingerNail Moon they fit perfectly with the story. At the start, the writing holds its own space, but as the book progresses, the illustrations begin washing over the writing as though, like Maddy, the book itself cannot contain its enchantment with the Universe, stars, galaxies, and planets. The Universe is rendered in watercolor-like pastels, less stark and solid than the characters in the story. It’s a lovely way to show the deep contrast between the magic of the galaxy and the solidity of Maddy and her friends.

Rather than treating science as a clinical, abstract subject, this book leans into the irresistible charm of seeing the world through the eyes of someone with boundless curiosity and excitement. Making science an adventure rather than a chore. For the kids who have outgrown the Baby University series, this is a great book to move on to.

Thank you for reading Joelene Pynnonen’s book review of The FingerNail Moon by Darrell Spencer and Greg McKenzie! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.

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