The Moon Shines Down

Reader reviewed by D.J. Kleiner

The Moon Shines Down resulted from Laura Minchew completing Margaret Wise Browns manuscript based on the prayer I See the Moon.

Sadly, The Moon Shines Down is not engaging due to the lack of overall structure. The voice flips between the third and first person. The premise of the book is the moon shining down on different areas of the world, but the places described seem random humans and different cultures, animals and different environments, humans and animals sleeping or dancing. The scenes of Christmas only in one place in the world and the sun, not the moon, shining over Asia are completely out of place. The rhythm of the verse is awkward and the rhymes are forced, especially when the author attempts to include word references to specific parts of the world Laotian, edelweiss, and Zuider Zee.

In contrast, Linda Blecks illustrations are bright and cheerful, vibrantly depicting the golden shine of the moon.

Minchew saw an opportunity when Browns unpublished manuscript was found an opportunity to recapture the voice of a beloved author and exploit her popularity. In actuality, The Moon Shines Down is a missed opportunity to use a beautiful sentiment God Bless the Moon and God Bless Me - to tell an endearing story.