Review: The Moon Shines Down by Margaret Wise Brown

The Moon Shines Down explores countries and regions around the world as well as the oceans that connect them all. Holland, Switzerland, Mexico, and Australia are just a few of the many countries included in the rhyming verse. A koala bear guide and the moon are the common threads in the large brightly-colored illustrations that complement the verse. The pictures contain popular cultural elements of each country or region. For example, the stanzas covering France are illustrated with the Eiffel Tower, vineyards, and an artist.

While the book unifies many countries of the world with the theme that they are all under the same celestial body, less westernized cultures receive less attention. Although not mentioned by name, the United States of America is alluded to with a focus on Christmas. While the rhyme is nice with a valuable message, the focus on the religious holiday seems out of place with the rest of the book.

In general, the book is educational, artfully illustrated, and carries a positive message of unity. Children will love the rhythm of the poem and the familiar refrain of, “I see the Moon and the Moon sees me. God bless the Moon and God bless me.”

Link to The Moon Shines Down: http://www.thomasnelson.com/consumer/product_detail.asp?sku=140031299X

Snow Day

Call me crazy, but I love snow! The three inches we received yesterday was a welcomed surprise. There are two main things that I like about snow: 1) The world seems a little brighter, literally and 2) the world gets a little more quiet. This morning I woke up to the the snow reflecting sunshine into my bed; it was beckoning me to get up and come outside. That is precisly what I did! Though it was after getting Charlie fed and changed, eating breakfast, dropping off big Charlie at work, finding my my snow pants, and bundling up Charlie in mobility-limiting snowsuit. Yes, then we hit the quiet street of Schuylkill Haven! It is a wonder that the snow was still there and hadn't melted.

I must say that I am impressed that a few of the usual park walkers were there at the park, commited to their health or perhaps, like me, just answering the call of the bright snow. So, there we were, Charlie and I, experienceing the snow together. I made him a snowball and in exchange he proudly handed me a few flakes in an attempt to give me what I imagine he thought was a snowball. His little feet, shuffling along as best as they could in his restrainment-suit, created tracks like cross-country skis. His little nose and cheeks were pink with cold, but he was too busy brushing snow from the picnic bench and watching it glitter as it settled to care. When it was time to go in, as indicated by wet gloves and a cold mommy, he, of course, did not want to leave.

Charlie's Extensive Vocabulary

Charlie has added three new words to his vocabulary in just 2 short days. Thus, bringing the total number of words he knows to... eight. If you ask me, he learned the most important word just yesterday: mama. If you ask his father, he will likely say that Charlie learned the most important word last week: dada. I suppose if we were to ask Charlie, he would say he learned the most important word several months ago: cracker.

I digress. Yesterday, he caught on to moo and baa. Well, when you ask him what a cow says, he will reply "mmmmm." But, I think that is close enough. As a recap, he also knows duck and quack. You can imagine the conversations we have!

Getting settled

Moving to a small town has its advantages but it requires a shift in pace. Life moves a little slower in a town of 5000, certainly slower than Houston. For example, the old-fashioned use of cash makes me pause to count and perhaps engage in a little conversation with the cashier at Bill's Market. Then there is that ever so slow form of transportation called walking. When a shop is less than 3/4 miles from my house I find it difficult to justify loading the baby into the car seat, finding my keys, and driving for 2 min. Instead, it is just less hastle to walk. Besides, everyone is doing it.

The main thing that requires patience in our new town is shopping. We do not have a Starbucks on every corner, in fact there is not a Starbucks for 30 miles. There is no craft store, Old Navy, Macy's, Nieman Marcus, or any other national chain store in Schuylkill Haven. If I want something a specific or out of the ordinary then it probably involves online shopping or at least a long ride down to Reading. Even there, there isn't too much.

In many ways this pace brings some charm with it. The extra chats, stopping to smell the flowers on a walk, and the added excitement of a special trip to the city have an aura that couldn't be found in Houston, a city that supposedly had everything.