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I SEE THE MOON
By Kathi Appelt
Illustrated by Debra Reid Jenkins
(Wm. B. Eerdmans, Inc., 1997)
About This Book
I think one of the scariest things for a child is often the act of falling
asleep. I remember being petrified of the dark and of being all alone
in my big bed. Even though I was surrounded by my favorite stuffed animals
and even though my bedroom was cozy and my parents were nearby, I was
still always a little afraid of drifting off to sleep. Who knew what awaited
me in my dreams? I'm still a little scared.
However, when I spent the night with my grandmother she would sing the
old nursery rhyme, "I see the moon and the moon sees me/God bless
the moon and God bless me" as she tucked me into bed. The comforting
moon outside my window always reminded me of God's presence and made the
dark so much less scary.
When my younger son turned nine years old, his godmother sent him a pillowcase
with the old rhyme silk screened onto it. One night as I was sitting beside
him, I noticed the silvery moon streaming in through the window and it
reminded me of my grandmother's sweet voice and suddenly I felt a sense
of reassurance, a sense that all would be well regardless of the circumstances.
That same sense stayed with me as I wrote this book, honoring my grandmother
and all those before and since who have sung that old nursery rhyme to
countless youngsters as they gaze at the lovely moon.
I feel that Debra Reid Jenkins perfectly captured that sense of jubilation
when we come safely ashore after a long journey, including a journey of
dreams. Her beautiful paintings exude wonder, hope, mystery, and mostly
joy that none of us are really ever alone.
I hope you'll enjoy it and share it with someone you love.
Kathi Appelt
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